Crafts

Christmas Crackers

These were popular in France before the middle of the 1800s. The idea is to loosely wrap gold or silver paper around small candies and tie at each end with ribbon. Two children tug at the ends until the cracker bursts, scattering the candies on the floor, where the children scramble to pick them up.

Gift wrapping paper, gold or silver
Small candies, individually wrapped
Self-sticking tape, gold, silver or clear
Brightly colored ribbon, 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide
Pencil
Ruler
Scissors

Start with about 12 candies and a sheet of paper 10 x 6 inches. Overlap 1/2 inch on the two 10-inch edges, and hold the edges together with either matching tape or clear tape. Slip the candies through one end so they are in the middle. Twist each end of the paper, 3 inches in from each end. Tie at each twist with ribbon, knotting before tying a bow. Open each end so it flares outward, and push inward on the twisted part so the center puffs up. Candies should rattle inside the puffed center section.

To break the paper crackers, each child holds a twisted end, then tugs and shakes the cracker until the paper breaks, spilling the candies.

NOTE: You can adapt these for any occasion during the year - birthday parties, Easter, Valentine's day, etc.