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Do Americans have Christmas crackers?
- Thread starter Real Hero
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Intentionally oversimplified it, yeah. Might've gotten my wires crossed between gaming discussion and the topic at hand...
ThLunarian
Member
I don't understand what these so-called 'crackers' have to do with Christmas. Where does this strange tradition come from?
I mean, the red comes from Santa's coat, the green comes from Christmas trees, the presents also come from Santa, as do the stockings. The manger stuff is all from Jesus. The turkey and/or ham has always just been a side-effect of having a feast and could be replaced with any large helping of meat that feeds multiple people.
But cardboard tubes that you pull apart to make a pop sound, and then apparently wear on your head? What...?
I mean, the red comes from Santa's coat, the green comes from Christmas trees, the presents also come from Santa, as do the stockings. The manger stuff is all from Jesus. The turkey and/or ham has always just been a side-effect of having a feast and could be replaced with any large helping of meat that feeds multiple people.
But cardboard tubes that you pull apart to make a pop sound, and then apparently wear on your head? What...?
Kite
Member
As an American I've heard of these crackers before, but as old-fashioned European things from the days past of gas lanterns, horses and carriages, black and white photos and monocles. I never knew they were still a thing.. You guys still play ye olde games like blind man's bluff, and charades at parties?
I like when I get a little sowing kit in mine. Shit is useful.
Also do the hand crawl up the cracker to ensure you win the prize. There can only be one!
err yeah.
Although for charades my family has opened up the categories to include cleaning products and infectious diseases.
Also do the hand crawl up the cracker to ensure you win the prize. There can only be one!
err yeah.
Although for charades my family has opened up the categories to include cleaning products and infectious diseases.
Dominoes, coquito, bombas, rum. Yeah, we celebrate it better.
Haha. No, we don't stand for that kind of crap in America.
The way I was raised was that wearing hats at the dinner table is disrespectful. I guess exceptions could be made on Christmas, but eh I dunno still seems weird.
Oh, and btw just want to clear up the record and say that I was aware of both Christmas crackers(though I've never personally seen them) and Boxing Day(I've seen enough wall calenders over the years that say "Boxing Day(Canada)" on them).
Gambit 1138
Banned
I've seen Christmas cookies in store but not sure about crackers
robotzombie
Member
two crackers walk into a bar
L4DANathan
Member
Christmas crackers wrapped in bacon! I'm a genius!
The_Hitcher89
Member
frankie_baby
Member
I don't think Americans even have Christmas Pud :O
acheron_xl
Member
Is that what the 'figgy pudding' refers to? No. Not a thing. Personally, every Christmas, there would be copious amounts of fudge and caramels, but no weird pudding.
frankie_baby
Member
No crackers?
No boxing day?
No pudding????????
American Christmas = Shit tier confirmed
I am shocked.
How can you have a Christmas dinner without a christmas pudding covered in fuckloads of extra strength brandy cream?!?
And after that you get the christmas cake and then the trifle with liquer soaked sponge!
acheron_xl
Member
Ace Harding
Member
I'm American and all I got for Christmas was freedom.
frankie_baby
Member
If you ain't even got the 26th off work I wouldn't call that freedom, would you?
We don't have any of that in Denmark either and I think a lot of other European countries
frankie_baby
Member
Poor misguided denmarkians
what the hell is that? Looks like a Mr Kiplings' cake slice for kids lunchboxes.
nah, let me explain.
CHRISTMAS PUDDING:
It's a fruitcake thats been aged to give it a unique, rich flavour. And yes, you set it on fire at the table using brandy. And then you shove loads of alcoholic brandy cream on it before eating.
CHRISTMAS CAKE:
CHRISTMAS TRIFLE:
yes, it has alcohol in it too.
As an American I clapped upon seeing this.
frankie_baby
Member
These days it's kinect or wii games!
Obviously I can't speak for everybody but I don't think I've ever had to work on the 26th, minus being deployed of course.
There is different levels of crackers, cheap ones you'll get plastic ring or something, the good ones you'll get a metal bottle opener!
frankie_baby
Member
Miniature comb is always one of the best ones to get
D
Deleted member 231381
Unconfirmed Member
No, this is a rich/poor thing. Your Waitrose crackers, they come with awesome toys, your Lidl Crackers, they come with plastic frogs moulds.
Also, American Christmas officially does suck. No Christmas crackers, or Christmas pudding? This is America, gunpowder and fire is like your speciality!
we save the fireworks for new years eve bro
we have that too.
Anyhow, our christmas season is a marathon:
1. Christmas Eve - decent dinner, lots of alcohol
2. Christmas Day - massive dinner, fuckloads of alcohol, chocolates, cake, trifle, cheese and biscuits
3. Boxing Day - another massive dinner (usually a mix of cold meats/salads and hot food), together with more cake and more alcohol
then its a few days of recovery before new years eve and new years day.
lol
but yeah, it's based on in the past (ye olde victorian times) where people would share generosity to their servants and slaves who didn't get anything on christmas by giving them boxes of gifts the day after christmas and having a celebration for them to enjoy (not as extravagant as the day before, of course).
so of course, today it's an excuse for everyone here in the UK and Australia to eat more and get even more drunk. and have ANOTHER day off work/or work with double pay.
so wait
you get gifts on christmas AND the day after?
brb going to the UK and moving in with Not the Droid you're looking for so I can get all these sweet christmas traditions in america we don't have.
frankie_baby
Member
yep, same here
we keep a few of our lesser regarded relatives presents until boxing day too
I was expecting to see a comment like this.
StealthGoblin
Banned
Boxing day for me is about eating through the five or six mountains of meat we have left over.
Cold mash potato, thick gravy - Duck, Goose, Beef, Lamb, Pork, Turkey and Chicken.
Meat sweats until I go back to work around 3rd Jan.
I'm basically drunk from when I get off work (18th December) to when I go back. The period in between is a mixture of songs, Doctor Who, pranks on my dad, eating meat, figuring out what to do with all the tat I am given and then waking up from lots of random naps.
Cold mash potato, thick gravy - Duck, Goose, Beef, Lamb, Pork, Turkey and Chicken.
Meat sweats until I go back to work around 3rd Jan.
I'm basically drunk from when I get off work (18th December) to when I go back. The period in between is a mixture of songs, Doctor Who, pranks on my dad, eating meat, figuring out what to do with all the tat I am given and then waking up from lots of random naps.
Still, it does sound enticing.
I am an expert on British pop culture and believe they would accept me as "one of their own".
Higgins113
Banned
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