For many families in the UK, Christmas crackers are a cherished part of holiday traditions, with their paper crowns and cheesy jokes taking pride of place at the dinner table. But this year, Fortnum & Mason has taken crackers to a new level of luxury, introducing their most extravagant set yet for an eye-watering £1,000.
The ‘Regal Crackers’ come in packs of six, making each cracker a princely £166. True to their name, these crackers promise “majestic” surprises, though the exact contents remain a mystery until popped. Examples shared by Fortnum & Mason include a silver-plated tea strainer, an olive wood and sterling silver honey drizzler, alongside the traditional fabric crown and joke.
Fortnum & Mason’s dedication to crackers goes back decades. In the 1920s, the luxury retailer even introduced a life-sized cracker that required 24 people to pull. However, crackers themselves date back to the Victorian era, when baker Tom Smith created them after being inspired by French bonbons. His innovation included love notes inside and a “crack” sound, inspired by the festive crackle of a log fire.
While Tom Smith’s crackers became wildly popular for celebrations beyond Christmas, such as the end of World War I in 1918, modern crackers are more associated with quirky jokes and novelty items. Luxury versions like Fortnum & Mason’s now cater to all tastes and budgets, offering everything from premium gifts to personalized baubles.
The extravagant price tag has sparked plenty of online discussion. @daryl_lynch quipped on X (formerly Twitter): “I’ve just flippin bought two Christmas decorations at Fortnum & Mason… I’m expecting the UK Q4 economic figures to show a significant improvement.” Meanwhile, @MrRyanSampson highlighted the brand’s knack for targeting affluent customers by showcasing personalized baubles featuring names like Hectorina and Umberto.
However, not everyone is on board with luxury crackers. Reddit users in the UK Christmas subreddit lamented the cost of even standard crackers. “Why would someone pay so much money? Even the luxury crackers seem overpriced for what you receive,” wrote one user. Others noted that budget-friendly options can be found at stores like Poundland and B&M.
Despite the debate, many agree that crackers are a quintessential part of British Christmas. As one user put it: “The joy of pulling a cracker and putting on a crap paper crown is priceless.”
