Buying Holly & Ivy at The Christmas Shop
Holly & Ivy is sold exclusively in the Netherlands at The Christmas Shop. This South African family business has been making handmade Christmas crackers since the 1990s, and we carry a wide selection from their seasonal collections. Prices run from around seventeen euros for a basic six-pack to about one hundred and thirty euros for a premium set such as Pearlised Baroque or Distinction. The crackers are always sold in sets, usually six per box and sometimes twelve.
What is a Christmas cracker?
A Christmas cracker is a British table decoration shaped like a rolled cardboard tube, decorated at both ends. Two people pull the ends, a small strip inside snaps open with a short bang, and whoever holds the larger piece keeps the contents. Inside you'll typically find a paper crown, a joke or riddle on a slip of paper, and a small gift. The tradition dates back to London in the 1840s and has been part of British Christmas dinners ever since.
Handmade in South Africa
Holly & Ivy began in the 1990s in the loft of a family home in South Africa, during the years the country was building its new democracy. The business has since grown into the country's largest Christmas cracker producer, with its own 3,000 square metre factory in Shaka's Head, KwaZulu-Natal. Every cracker is still rolled, filled and finished by hand. That accounts for the slightly higher price compared with mass-produced crackers, but also for the careful finish and the steady local employment the production provides.
The Holly & Ivy collections
Each season Holly & Ivy designs new collections with their own prints and palettes. The styles range from traditional themes like Holly & Berry and Robin to more expressive ones like Vibrant Botanicals, Traditional Damask and the premium Pearlised Baroque. White, green, red and gold dominate, with the occasional foray into pink, purple or multicoloured options. Pick crackers that match your Christmas tableware for a coordinated look, or deliberately choose a contrasting tone for a livelier table.
