Editing Christmas cracker (section)

{{short description|Table decoration that makes a snapping sound when pulled}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2020}}
[[File:ChristmasCrackers 2.jpg|thumb|Christmas crackers]]
'''Christmas crackers''' are festive table decorations that make a snapping sound when pulled open, and typically contain a small gift, paper hat and a joke. They are part of [[Christmas]] celebrations in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries such as [[Australia]], [[Canada]], [[New Zealand]] and [[South Africa]].

A cracker consists of a segmented [[Paperboard|cardboard]] tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of [[paper]] with a prize in the centre,<ref name="bbc america">{{cite web|last=McAlpine|first=Fraser|title=Part 3: Crackers|url=http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/12/a-very-british-christmas-crackers/|work=A Very British Christmas|publisher=BBC America|access-date=25 December 2012|date=7 December 2011}}</ref> making it resemble an oversized [[Candy#Packaging|sweet-wrapper]]. The cracker is pulled apart by two people, each holding an outer chamber, causing the cracker to split unevenly and leaving one person holding the central chamber and prize.<ref name="bbc america"/> The split is accompanied by a mild bang or snapping sound produced by the effect of friction on a [[shock sensitivity|shock-sensitive]], chemically impregnated card strip (similar to that used in a [[cap gun]]).<ref name="bbc america" /> One chemical used for the friction strip is [[silver fulminate]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Christmas Crackers USA|url=http://christmas-crackers-usa.com/faqs.htm|access-date=3 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214152532/http://www.christmas-crackers-usa.com/faqs.htm|archive-date=14 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>