DISNEY €8

While aspiring princesses might like these, most other people will surely think them a waste of money, not least because they are aimed a very small niche of the market. Many little girls will like pulling these, but their brothers and parents will be less enamoured we suspect. The toys are – sorry Walt – awful and the hats are too small and flimsy. The crackers make a lousy pop. Pricewatch tested these with some of the brand's key demographic, but even little girls who are normally fond of Disney princesses were underwhelmed.

Joke: No joke. Instead there are inane trivia questions such as: "What were Cinderella's shoes made of?"

Verdict: Bah. And humbug.
Star rating: *

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS €15.95

If the Disney crackers take tack to a whole new level, these tasteful ones, bought from Avoca, will go a long way to redressing the balance. There are no toys but a number of jokes, an explanation of the rules of charades, Babe and John Cleese were in one of the tested crackers, as well as some jokes that should probably have been retired not long after the song that inspired these crackers was written.

Joke: What do you call a multi-storey pigs' home? A styscraper.

0 of 3

Verdict: Too tasteful
Star rating: **

HARVEY AND MASON €14.99

These crackers make a much better first impression than most of their rivals: they are big and brightly coloured, which make a pleasing bang when pulled. The gifts that fall out are fairly high-end – well, that might be overstating it a little, not entirely rubbish might be more accurate. One had a miniature screwdriver set, which might come in handy when performing minor surgical procedures on toys. The hat is solid, while the card contains a weird piece of envy-inducing trivia about the salaries of Greeks and Spaniards over Christmas.

Joke: We couldn't find one.

Verdict: No laughs, but still good.
Star rating: ****


MARKS & SPENCER €20

These will look lovely as part of a fancy Christmas Day place setting, and they look more expensive than they are, like all good crackers should. The gifts inside are relatively upmarket – for instance a tiny grater (although we're not sure why we would ever want such a thing), a small metal ruler (again of uncertain use) and a bracelet. The gold hats are commendably sturdy. While the crackers are big the snap was muted, the jokes weren't very funny and the trivia dull – so dull we've forgotten all of it.

Joke: What Christmas Carol does every parent like best? Silent Night.

Verdict: Great value.
Star rating: ****