Postage stamp. Great Britain. Queen Elizabeth II. Christmas 1997. 150th Anniversary of the Christmas Cracker. Father Christmas on Chimney. 63p.

Postage stamp. Great Britain. Queen Elizabeth II. Christmas 1997. 150th Anniversary of the Christmas Cracker. Father Christmas on Chimney. 63p. Stock Photo
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Image details

Contributor:

Stan Pritchard / Alamy Stock Photo

Image ID:

2A6A7F1

File size:

19.2 MB (880.7 KB Compressed download)

Releases:

Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?

Dimensions:

3000 x 2233 px | 25.4 x 18.9 cm | 10 x 7.4 inches | 300dpi

Date taken:

31 October 2015

More information:

This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.

Christmas crackers are festive table decorations that make a snapping sound when pulled opened, and often contain a small gift and a joke. They are part of Christmas celebrations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries such as Australia (where they are sometimes known as bon-bons), Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. A cracker consists of a segmented cardboard tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of paper with a prize in the middle, [1] making it resemble an oversized 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. The split is accompanied by a mild bang or snapping sound produced by the effect of friction on a shock-sensitive, chemically impregnated card strip (similar to that used in a cap gun). One chemical used for the friction strip is silver fulminate.