Christmas crackers

The Christmas cracker was invented by a London sweet shop owner called Tom Smith. In 1847, after spotting French bonbons wrapped in paper with a twist at each end, he sold similar sweets with a “love motto” inside.

He then included a little trinket and a “bang”. His “Bangs of Expectation” included gifts such as jewellery and miniature dolls.

By 1900, he was selling 13 million a year.

Scared of ol’ Grampus?

Austrian children are told about Krampus . A Christmas Devil who is said to beat Naughty Children with branches.

Scary stuff and this is one of the least scary pictures of Krampus we could find.