Crackers are festively decorated paper tubes with a twist in the paper about a quarter of the way from each end. There are also two long thin card bands going down the middle joined with some sort of explosive substance at the midpoint so that it makes a bang when you pull them apart; two people do this by each holding on to one of the ends of the paper tube and pulling. The large middle section also contains a paper party hat, a small toy, and an execrable joke or riddle (the worse the better). They're most often used at Christmas dinners or lunches.

Bingley

Bingley