Who invented Christmas cracker jokes?
Crackers themselves are thought to have been invented around 1850, but the inclusion of jokes came much later, in the 20th century. The jokes themselves however, were around long before that. The British Library holds a copy of “The Witling”, a book of conundrums published in 1750. Many newspapers ran a section on conundrums and riddles to entertain readers around the Christmas period. So the answer is - the jokes themselves pre-dated inclusion in crackers by 200 years or more. I even came across that well-known “When is a door not a door” (When it’s a jar), in use in 1816. Here are a few more:
1. If all the alphabet were invited to dinner, why could they not all accept the invitation? (Because 6 of them come after T)
2.Why is a bankrupt like a young devil on an outhouse? (He is imp-over-i-shed)
3. Why is a pig with a curled tail like the ghost in Hamlet? (Because it could a ‘tale’ unfold)
4. What is lengthened by being cut at both ends? (A ditch)
5. When may a man be literally said to be head over heels in debt? (When he wears a hat which is not paid for)
6. Why is a tragedy a more natural performance in a theatre than a comedy? (Because the boxes are always in ‘tears’)
7. What sea would one wish for on a rainy night? (A-dri-atic)
8. Why is a person much troubled with the lumbago like a garrett? (Because he is a rheum-atic)
9. Why is the Lord Chancellor like a taylor? (Because he justifies long bills)
10. When you put on your stockings in the morning, why are you sure to make a mistake? (Because you cannot avoid putting your foot in it)
My personal favourite is this one (published in 1770):
Why is the Navy like Lady Grosvenor? (Because she is miserably manned)
I think this was casting aspersions on the efficiency with which the ship “The Lord Grosvenor” was operated, rather than the manhood of Lady Grosvenor’s husband, but who knows!
Seasons greetings to all my readers and grateful thanks for your continued support and feedback.

​In modern times in the UK we’ve had TV programmes that mock public figures and policy, such as “Have I got news for you” and (if you’re old enough to remember) “Spitting image” and “That was the week that was”. Two hundred years ago newspapers and pamphlets made fun of authority figures, using satire, parody and cartoons in much the same way we are used to today. Under the repressive government of 1816 this was a dangerous thing to do. William Hone’s parody of the Lord’s Prayer (“Our lord who art in Treasury”) and of other pieces of the church liturgy led to his prosecution for blasphemy. It was his way of protesting at how a peaceful march for democratic rights was turned into a riot at Spa Fields, London, by a handful of troublemakers, incited by government spies. The government was not above using such sarcasm itself. Following the suppression of the riot, it published a mock “death notice” in one of the more conservative periodicals: “Died on Saturday last, … the plot of Spa Fields.”