Thank You, Dinah and Maureen for the Christmas Crackers.
Forgive my ignorance, but this is my first time to HEARš„ of this UK tradition. Hurrah for the English! Maureen Bell is originally from UK. She is just learning how to play HongKong Mahjong. I am very proud to be her Mahjong GURU!
Maureen took our photo DURING mahjong time with Our Paper Crowns from the Christmas Crackers she gave us. I have not pulled my Cracker and wait for Christmas Day to pull it and hear the Cracking Sound of Fireworks!š„Christmas crackers are a traditional Christmas favorite in the UK. They were first made in about 1845-1850 by a London sweet maker called Tom Smith. He had seen the French 'bon bon' sweets (almonds wrapped in pretty paper) on a visit to Paris in 1840. He came back to London and tried selling sweets like that in England and also included a small motto or riddle in with the sweet. But they didn't sell very well.
In 1861 Tom Smith launched his new range of what he called 'Bangs of Expectation'!
Legend says that, one night, while he was sitting in front of his log fire, he became very interested by the sparks and cracks coming from the fire. Suddenly, he thought what a fun idea it would be, if his sweets and toys could be opened with a crack when their fancy wrappers were pulled in half.
However, looking into the history of the Tom Smith company, it's thought that Tom actually bought the recipe for the small cracks and bangs in crackers from a fireworks company called Brock’s Fireworks. The story of him sitting by the fire was probably added to help sell his new items.
Crackers were also nicknamed called 'cosaques' and were thought to be named after the 'Cossack' soldiers who had a reputation for riding on their horses and firing guns into the air.
When Tom died, his expanding cracker business was taken over by his three sons, Tom, Walter and Henry. Walter introduced the hats into crackers and he also traveled around the world looking for new ideas for gifts to put in the crackers. The crowns might have been inspired from Epiphany cakes from Europe which are often decorated with a paper crown on the top.
For additional Details visit:
https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/christmas-crackers
https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/philippines
Christmas Dinner at Dodie's ( my oldest son) Residence Today in Benicia, Playing Mahjong and watching Football NFL 49er's vs the Ravens' and opening Christmas Crackers!!!
With Sherrie( Ruth cousin) and Ruth ( Daughter-in-law)-Dodie's spouse in Benicia, CA with their paper Crown from the Christmas Crackers I gave them.Dodie and Me- Thank you for my apple watch Christmas gift and the Siri Apps!
1 comment:
Another English custom from Queen Victoria’s time is Boxing Day which is the day after Christmas..
Rich people would box up things they did not want and give them to the poor. The Queen would box up gifts and give them to her servants, plus give them some time off as they had to work on Christmas Day.
Maureen
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