======Wizarding Christmas Crackers======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** Magical Novelty Item
  * **Owners:** A common, consumable item used by wizards, notably at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] and by families such as the [[Weasley family]].
  * **Maker:** Unknown; likely produced by various wizarding novelty manufacturers.
=====Description and Appearance=====
[[Wizarding Christmas Crackers]] are festive novelties enjoyed during the [[Christmas]] season in the [[Wizarding World]]. While their external appearance is not described in detail, they are used in the same manner as [[Muggle]] crackers, with two people pulling on either end to break them open.
When pulled, the crackers go off with a significantly more powerful effect than their non-magical counterparts. They explode with a bang like a small cannon and typically engulf the participants in a cloud of blue smoke.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
Unlike their [[Muggle]] counterparts which contain paper hats and small plastic toys, [[Wizarding Christmas Crackers]] contain substantially more impressive, often magical, gifts. They are a staple of the [[Christmas Feast]] at [[Hogwarts]] and family celebrations, providing entertainment and amusing presents.
Known contents of [[Wizarding Christmas Crackers]] include:
  * A rear-admiral's hat
  * A flowered bonnet, once worn by [[Albus Dumbledore]]
  * A witch's hat with silver trimming
  * A wizard's hat topped with a stuffed [[Vulture]], a joke gift given to [[Neville Longbottom]]
  * Live, harmless white [[Mouse|mice]]
  * A joke [[Prefect]]'s badge, received by [[Percy Weasley]]
  * A pack of non-explodable, luminous balloons
  * A Grow-Your-Own-Warts kit
  * A [[Chudley Cannons]] wall-planner
=====History=====
The specific origin of [[Wizarding Christmas Crackers]] is unknown. They are presented as a long-standing and common tradition within the [[Wizarding World]], enjoyed by students at [[Hogwarts]] and families like the [[Weasleys]] during the [[Christmas]] holidays. [[Harry Potter]] first encountered them during his first [[Christmas]] at [[Hogwarts]] in 1991.
=====Role in the Story=====
[[Wizarding Christmas Crackers]] primarily serve as a world-building element, showcasing the fun and whimsical nature of the [[Wizarding World]]. For [[Harry Potter]], they are part of his joyful first experiences of a proper family [[Christmas]], contrasting sharply with his deprived childhood with the [[Dursley family|Dursleys]].
The contents of the crackers also provide small moments of humour and character insight. For example, [[Albus Dumbledore]]'s cheerful willingness to wear a flowered bonnet demonstrates his eccentric and playful side. The vulture-topped hat given to [[Neville Longbottom]] at [[12 Grimmauld Place]] is a lighthearted reference to his [[Boggart]].
=====Behind the Scenes=====
In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone//, [[Wizarding Christmas Crackers]] are shown during the [[Christmas Feast]] in the [[Great Hall]]. They explode with a flash of light and a puff of smoke, and the paper hats within are shown to be more elaborate than typical paper crowns. (film)