Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street, Leicester Square, London, SW1Y 4AJ. No festive lunch is complete without a round of Christmas crackers to kickstart the party with friends and family. Hand-tied with luxurious olive green velvet bows and filled with trinkets, they pair beautifully with the brand's Heidi Green Tablecloth.

On the reverse of the tag is a QR code that takes you to a joke and a challenge that will have everyone around the table in fits.While some of the crackers in this round-up include gifts for children, we can imagine some adults being reluctant to share, so we’ve included these especially for little ones this Christmas.

It all depends on your personal preference but as a starting point, you should consider how many guests you’ll have, and whether they’d prefer something traditional or a contemporary luxury Christmas cracker.The thick recyclable paper crackers feature a pretty mistletoe illustration design, which is printed using vegetable-based inks, and green silky bows. If you’re looking for a more sustainable offering, these reusable crackers from Etsy are our top choice. Inside is a selection of plastic-free gifts for everyone in the family, including a wooden yoyo, a faux leather keyring and a mini jam, that we think will get plenty of use. As it's estimated that more than 150 million crackers are pulled in the UK alone each Christmas, we've also hunted down sustainable and eco-friendly options that come without glitter and feature minimal packaging, and – even better – reusable options that you can fill with the perfect gifts yourself. And who doesn't love to watch a tussle between loved ones as they battle it out for the treat inside?