Traditions: History of the Holiday Cracker

Invented in the 1840s by British baker Tom Smith, holiday crackers—or party poppers—have been used to celebrate the holidays worldwide. Essentially, a cracker is a small cardboard tube covered in festive wrapping paper with a gift, paper crown, and a joke or riddle inside. Crackers are usually pulled at holiday dinners or parties and tradition states that the person who ends up with the larger piece of the tube gets to keep the treasures contained within.

FUN FACT: On December 15, 2014, 798 people in Waterford, Ireland, achieved the record for the longest chain of holiday crackers pulled at once.

Be Our guest: The best gifts for your host/hostess.

So you’re attending a plethora of parties and get-togethers this season, meaning you’ll need plenty of gifty items for those so kind as to let you into their home for the holidays. Here are a few suggestions to get you out of that wine and fruitcake rut.

Recipe: Mulled Wine

Ingredients:
2 cups apple cider
2 bottles red wine
¼ cup of brandy
¼ cup of honey
1 orange (sliced)
8 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise pods

DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients into a pot or slow cooker and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce to medium-low heat and let simmer for 15 minutes. Serve warm.