The Story of the Christmas Cracker

In 1830 a young Tom Smith was working as a baker and confectioner in London. He spent his off duty hours producing designs for different cakes and sweets which eventually enabled him to open his own business. He often travelled abroad in search of inspiration and it was on a trip to Paris in 1840 that he first saw the 'bon bon' a sugared almond wrapped in a twist of tissue paper. It was a simple idea which over the course of the next seven years would evolve into the Christmas Cracker

By placing a small love motto in the tissue paper Tom created an interest in his product especially at Christmas time. One evening during a search for inspiration he casually threw a log on the fire. The crackling sound made by the burning log gave him an idea that would lead to the crackers we know today. After a great deal of experimenting he came up with a mechanism that made a 'pop' as the sweet wrapping was broken. In time this became a snap and the cracker was born

Over the next few years his ideas evolved and the business grew so much that he moved from East London to the city centre in Finsbury Square. When he died his sons Tom, Walter, and Henry took over the business 

His three sons had a water fountain erected in Finsbury Square in memory of their mother Martha and father Tom, the inventor of the Christmas Cracker 

Walter introduced paper hats into the crackers, and travelled the world seeking new and unusual little gifts to be placed inside them 

The company were very aware of current affairs and used them as a way of expanding their business. They made crackers for the Suffragettes, War Heroes, Charlie Chaplin, and many great occasions including the Coronation. Exclusive crackers were made for the Royal Family and still are to this day 

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I am not promoting these crackers, I discovered this information in my cracker during Christmas lunch at Longleat House