Cheap and cheerful is the only way to describe them, the Christmas crackers usually found on most festive dinner tables.

There's something eminently satisfying standing back and admiring a well-planned feast of festive cheer. Every year, more and more work seems to go into it.

But the crackers. Who thinks too much about the crackers? They're almost an afterthought, a requirement, a last-minute reflex action as you pass by and grab the nearest box from a huge stack of them at the local supermarket. You could do a lot better.

No one is saying spend a fortune, just a few extra quid, on some up-market, luxury crackers, and then stand by for all the oohs and aahs. They'll turn a great Christmas spread into something just a little bit extra special, adding a splash of sparkling colour and magic to the proceedings. And they'll be a real talking point, too, not only with the kids!

Go one step further. There are some rather large crackers available, nowadays, guaranteed to set the pulse racing and the tongues wagging in excitement and anticipation. They make a fabulous centrepiece on any Christmas table.

Imagine the scene as the moment arrives to pull the cracker. Snap! Out spills a mouth-watering assortment of delicious chocolates onto the table, not to mention a bundle of party hats and jokes. Fun-filled moments of joy to record and to remember forever.

Crackers seem to have always been a part of Christmas. Can you remember a time without them? Surprisingly, though, they're a relatively modern innovation, only going back to early Victorian times. Now they are sold by the millions every year - and they generate millions of pounds for the major retailers. Well Christmas crackers are big business!

If you think spending £30 or £40 on buying a rather large cracker is a bit over the top, then think again. Last year, the UK's Royal Mint was offering a special cracker for sale for a mere £10,000.

The one-off cracker, created by the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, contained five 22 carat gold Sovereigns. Heavily guarded by MOD police officers at the Royal Mint's secure site, it was sold within hours of going on sale.

Something a little bit less expensive, perhaps? What about some Silver Bling Crackers from Harrods, which will set you back a little under £600 for six crackers.

Mind you, every cracker is individually hand crafted and decorated with the finest of trims. And inside, instead of the usual mass-produced party hat, there's a hand made one. The corny joke is replaced by a “a booklet brimming with humour and trivia”. Of course, naturally.

Plastic toy? Not a bit of it - cigar leather case with stainless steel cutter, sterling silver zircon earrings in fine leather jewellery roll, Swarovski crystals whistle keyring and USB flash drive, pinstripe socks...

Now that's a cracker of a cracker. Cheap and cheerful doesn't come close!