share a Christmas custom which harkens back to the old country....
Jolly Olde England.
We wear paper hats during Christmas dinner...they are garish shades of Eggy Yellow, Fire Engine Red, Royal Purple, and Hot Pink....which invariably clash with one's outfit!
There is a bit of a mad scramble to pull these crackers...all the food is on the table, we are ready and gathered, we turn to the person seated beside us, (it works best if we all turn to the same side or chaos ensues!) take turns pulling the crackers. They POP and we swiftly unwrap and empty out the contents...hats are put on and we set the rest aside while we serve and pass turkey and vegs...we toast with some wine and bubbly and when dinner has been finished and those wanting seconds are sated, the table is cleared and we get down to the business of reading the jokes and riddles and showing off the prizes inside...
(laughter and groans follow...the jokes are usually bad)
Trading does occur...and sometimes the ante is high if there is a coveted item.
I have kept my mini screwdriver set from several years back, it has been a valuable tool pack for mini fixes when Mr. HB is not here...and the mini cards found their way into my handbag and were used on a long ferry ride.
If one is creative, has time and wants to shop for personal and individualized prizes
the makings for these are available at Michael's stores and most certainly there are some online sources.
I have yet to make my own Christmas Crackers
I feel that these folks have been making them for so long that they have mastered the art...
that's what I tell myself...
I do not want to entertain guilty or lazy thoughts!
Hostess Holiday Hint:
I double recipes and freeze them for times when life gets busy...
like now!
I take the frozen dinner out of the freezer the night before and refrigerate
then all I need to do is heat it through and make a salad, set the table and I'm done.