Steve Webb 0:01 Merry Christmas! This is day 15 of the 2022 encore of the 2009 season of the Lifespring Why Christmas show and I the OG Godcaster Steve Webb, my co host is James Cooper, creator of whychristmas.com If you haven't heard we're having a drawing here on Christmas Day where one lucky listener just like you will win an autographed copy of Bryan Duncan's A NehoSoul Christmas CD. For details on how you can enter go to Lifespringmedia.com/day9 to see how that's Lifespring media.com/d a y numeral nine no spaces. And every day from now to Christmas Day we're bringing you an episode from the 2009 season. If you're not yet subscribed, or following the show, you can do that at LifespringWhyChristmas.show. And lastly, this is a value for value podcast. The show is free but if you're enjoying these little bits of Christmas goodness each day, maybe you'd be willing to show James and I some appreciation by sending a Christmas gift our way. Here's where to do that lifespringmedia.com/support. And have you heard about sending micro payments to your favorite podcasts? Learn more at Lifespringmedia.com/stream. If you have any questions, email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com And now here's the show. James Cooper 1:36 Hello, and welcome to day number 15 of the Lifespring why Christmas Show. Today Steve has joined me to find out a bit more about Christmas crackers and we're gonna tell you some of the good and not so good jokes in them. Steve Webb 1:48 Well, hello to you, James. You know we don't have these much in the US of A but they can make a great addition to the Christmas dinner table. They were first made, as you know in the UK in 1850 by a London sweet maker called Tom Smith, and his name is still a big one in crackers in the UK. He wanted a new way of selling his sweets. Tom had been over to Paris and seen how they wrap their posh sweets called bonbons in colored paper and he wondered if he could do a similar thing. Then one night while he was sitting in front of his log fire the crackling of the fire made him think... James Cooper 2:20 What if I wrapped my sweets in colored wrapping paper. And then you could open them and they go bang oh and I could include a toy in them as well then people would be bound to buy them. Steve Webb 2:30 So the first Christmas cracker was born. Crackers today are short cardboard tubes wrapped in colorful paper. There's normally a cracker next to each plate on the Christmas dinner table. In a cracker you'll find a colorful party hat, a toy or gift and a festive joke. The party hats look like crowns and it is thought that they symbolize the crowns that might have been worn by the wise men. James Cooper 2:51 But the most famous thing about crackers is the jokes. They are notoriously bad or corny. So for your listening pleasure... well, something like that...are a selection of Christmas cracker jokes about Christmas. Steve Webb 3:04 You first James Cooper 3:05 I say I say I say how does good King Wenceslas like his pizza. Steve Webb 3:10 I don't know James, how does good king Wenceslaus like his pizzas James Cooper 3:14 he likes one that's deep Pan crisp and even. Steve Webb 3:18 These are bad. Here's one for you. Why did Santa's helper see the doctor? James Cooper 3:24 You know I'm not sure about that. Steve Webb 3:26 Well, it's because he had low elf esteem. James Cooper 3:31 What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? Steve Webb 3:34 It's Christmas, Eve. James Cooper 3:36 Haha. Steve Webb 3:39 That one I knew. How about this one. Why don't penguins fly? James Cooper 3:45 I thought it was something to do with genetics that their wings weren't big enough to Steve Webb 3:49 Oh, no, no, no, no, it's because they're not tall enough to be pilots. James Cooper 3:55 And what does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck in his chimney? Steve Webb 4:01 I don't know. James Cooper 4:03 Claustophobia. Steve Webb 4:08 James, what do you get if you cross Santa with a duck? James Cooper 4:13 A quismas quacker Steve Webb 4:15 of course. What else? Let's see. I think it's your turn. James Cooper 4:19 Who delivers presents to baby sharks at Christmas? Steve Webb 4:23 Oh, I don't know. A brave person? James Cooper 4:25 No, that would be Santa Jaws. Steve Webb 4:29 Hey, James. James Cooper 4:30 Yes? Steve Webb 4:31 What carol is heard in the desert. James Cooper 4:33 I do know this one. It's O Camel Ye Faithful. Steve Webb 4:38 That's right. Hey, wait, wait a minute. I have to do this next one. What kind of motorbike does Santa ride? James Cooper 4:46 It probably has a trailer out the back for all the presents, I'm guessing? Steve Webb 4:50 No, it's a Holly Davidson. James Cooper 4:54 And how to sheep in Mexico. say Merry Christmas. Steve Webb 4:58 Oh, let's see. I thick it must be Fleece Navidad. James Cooper 5:04 Well if you'd like to know more about crackers or see some more bad Christmas jokes, then head on over to whychristmas.com The links are in the show notes at lifespringmedia.com Steve Webb 5:15 Come on back tomorrow when James will be telling you about Christmas carols. So for day 21 of the Lifespring Why Christmas show, it's goodbye from me, James Cooper 5:24 and it's goodbye from him. Transcribed by https://otter.ai