Christmas crackers - like them or loathe them?

[BlackCurtains]

I never knew they had so much in them. Nail sets are common? That sounds like such a weird thing

[Taffeta]

There are lots of different varieties now, with different themes, price points, and so on. You can even get kits to make your own and add your own contents. Dad used to do this, before the pandemic, when he couldn't get the stuff any more. Nail clippers, sewing sets, screwdrivers, nail files, small scissors...all things we've had in crackers before. Along with corkscrews, mirrors, photo frames, and so on. Also some tacky jewellery and hair ties.

@Brightberry, I remember one of my university friends (who is a vegetarian) being very confused about mincemeat and what was in it, until she realised it was nothing to do with actual meat Mum has also been known to send mince pies to friends in Japan who used to live here.

I think they might have roots in when they used spices and stuff to flavour meat to hide when it was getting a bit old. Not sure though. Maybe wrong.

We used to make mince pies when my grandfather was alive, as he used to eat a lot of them. Dad can't eat them much now because of his low cholesterol diet, so Mum sometimes makes a big one or a mince and apple pie and that's it. We buy commercial ones otherwise, thoughthis year we've had little luck with that.