A Christmas cracker (the wizarding variation also known as Wizard Cracker) is a party favour given out at Christmas in the United Kingdom, as well as in other Commonwealth countries like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Crackers consist of a cardboard tube wrapped in festive paper that is twisted at either end like a sweet wrapper. Inside of the tube are prizes, and, in order to get them out, two people each hold one end of the cracker and pull it apart. The split is accompanied by a bang (from which the name cracker is derived).
Muggle vs. wizard crackers
Muggle crackers contain several items — typically a paper hat, a plastic toy, and a slip of paper with a joke printed on it — and produce a small bang because a thin strip of chemically-infused cardboard is torn in half when the cracker is pulled apart.
Wizard crackers, in contrast, go off with a bang as loud as a cannon blast, enveloping everyone nearby in a cloud of blue smoke. They contain the same hat, gift, and joke as the Muggle variety, but the hats are real and the gifts are extremely unique, even peculiar.
Wizard crackers at Hogwarts
- A rear-admiral's hat, received by Harry Potter in 1991.
- A flowered bonnet, received by Albus Dumbledore in 1991.
- A top hat, received by Minerva McGonagall in 1991.
- A witch's hat topped with a stuffed vulture, received by Severus Snape in 1993, apparently in response to an incident earlier that year involving Neville Longbottom's Boggart.
- Several live white mice, received by Harry Potter in 1991, all of which disappeared. Harry assumed that they were later eaten by Mrs Norris.
- A pack of non-explodable, luminous balloons, received by Harry Potter in 1991.
- A grow-your-own-warts kit, received by Harry Potter in 1991.
- A Wizard's Chess set, received by Harry Potter in 1991.
Behind the scenes
- In the various video game adaptions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter have a duel with Wizard Crackers joined by Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, which Harry won in the end.
- During the winter of 1996 in the film adaption of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in The Burrow Fred and George Weasley pull a Wizard Cracker
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game (Mentioned only)