I have made Christmas crackers too and agree with your comments about them. I haven't made them every year though, instead my husband, myself and 3 children, each have a fabric stocking. that I made when the kids were very small, from Christmas fabrics. And we have a heap of little presents, all wrapped in these. Each year when I suggest we stop them, the kids , ( now 23,19 and 15), say no, that is one of the things they enjoy most about Christmas. The gifts are sometimes useful things, new knickers/socks, ( not so exciting, but I try to buy really special ones), pens, pencils, lip gloss, special food treats, little novelties, and if possible a few oddities, soemthing, where they won't know exactly what it is maybe, or something funny. We always sit in a circle together and open them one at a time, waiting until the last person has opened theirs..... makes Christmas last longer!!!!
Our other Christmas tradition relates to an advent calendar that my Mother embroidered for for the kids when they were small. I package up sweets etc and tie them onto the little gold loops all over the hanging. I have also suggested they are getting a bit big for this, but still they like it. This year my daughters were still in the city, studying and working through December, so I did up and advent box for each of them with the number of little packages until they could come home, and share the ones on the hanging, with their brother. Because they are a bit more health conscious, I included things like cashew nuts, nice teabags, dried peaches etc and well as a few sweets. Not sure when my crew will let me stop, but these are out family Christmas traditions.
Kaye.