Cracking Christmas!
Will this be the last of my Christmas posts hmm.............Maybe. In this post I want to talk about all things CRACKERS!! Including myself!! Ha ha!
The story of the traditional Christmas Cracker is a charming one and a credit to ones mans imagination and determination,that of British man Tom Smith. A confectioners apprentice in London at the early part of the 19th century, he went on a trip to Paris in 1840 and discovered the French sugared almond bon- bons wrapped in bright coloured paper and decided to introduce them in London . The bon-bons were popular but not as much as he hoped for.
For seven years he worked on improving the bon-bon but it wasn't until he sat down one night in front of his fire and watched it crackle and sparkle that he became inspired to trying something innovative and very different with his bon-bon. He made a coloured paper wrapper and put it in another strip of paper infused with chemicals which, when rubbed, created enough friction to produce a banging noise. He knew the "cracking" sound of the bon-bon would excite and thrill the children and the mottos and poems he inserted inside his "Crackers" amused the adults equally.
Little did he know how hugely popular these Crackers would become and for some are an important part of the traditional Christmas party dressing table scene. Loved by children and adults alike today they remain in our hearts and Christmas simply wouldn't be complete without them.
THANK YOU TOM SMITH!
I'm including another kind of Christmas Cracker in this post, that of FABULOUS FASHION kind of Cracker! Ha ha! Lots of pre-Christmas sales in the shops at the moment and other gems. Heres what caught my eye.
I hope you've enjoyed my last Christmas themed post and keeping with Violinkit's Vintage and Modern themed mix-up here's the vintage bit. A little CHRISTMAS CRACKER in its own right and definitely ticking the Vintage box.
So thats it folks, I'll have a new post out shortly after Christmas day. Have a wonderful Christmas and thank you all for your wonderful support. Christmas all wrapped up! Love and best wishes
Violinkit XXXX
