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The Christmas cracker was invented in Victorian Britain by a sweet shop owner called Thomas Smith. Wanting to take advantage of the increase in confectionary sales at Christmas and inspired by a sweet he saw on a trip to Paris – a bon-bon wrapped in tissue paper with both ends twisted - he came up with the cracker.

• Topic: Craft
• Difficulty: Easy
• Time: 20 mins

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Step 1: Place three formers onto paper

Layout cardboard rolls

Take coloured paper and lay out, we used crepe paper. If you use crepe paper it's a good idea to have several layers of different colours. Evenly space three cardboard rolls across the paper - these are the formers which create the shape of the cracker.

Step 2: Glue the edge of the paper and roll around the formers

Roll paper around formers

Glue along one edge of the paper and roll tightly over the three cardboard rolls. Stick the edge down firmly.

Step 3: Stick on the decoration

Decorate

In Victorian times you could buy sheets of colourful printed labels that were used for craft activities. We have provided you with some original to decorate your crackers. Choose one of the designs (T1), cut out and stick on to your cracker.

Step 4: Put the snap inside and fill with sweets and toys

Fill the cracker

Place one cracker snap inside the cracker and slip in your chosen treats.

In Thomas Smith's first crackers he placed just sweets inside; later on he started to use paper hats, small toys and mottos, much like our crackers today.

Step 5: Tie with ribbon

Tie the ends

Lastly, use ribbon, raffia or string to tie the two ends of the cracker and remove the two end formers.

Now your cracker is finished you just need to find someone to pull it with.