There are two Christmas food customs that originated in England are almost always associated with the Christmas season: mince meat and fruitcake. If you live in the U.S. you’re acquainted with eating pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving or perhaps pear pie or apple pie at Christmas, but you might have never heard of mince pies. In England, mince pies are a regular part of the annual Christmas celebrations. Curious about what mince pies are and how they play into the Christmas tradition? Well I’m happy to share that with you!
Not For The Sweet Tooth
Mince pies or mincemeat pies have a long history that dates back to Medieval times, and were actually a way to make use of any leftover meat. Today, mincemeat pies actually do not contain any meat, so the term can be somewhat misleading to individuals who are unfamiliar with this Christmas food. Mince pies typically contain a combination of dried fruits and spices. Some individuals enjoy making mince pies using alcohol such as brandy, but that is entirely up to the individual and is not necessary to make a good mince pie. While some families in the U.S. enjoy mince pies, this custom is not as widely practiced here as it is in England where it originated.
It Wouldn’t Be Christmas Without Fruitcake
Another Christmas food custom that comes from England is fruitcake. For centuries, fruitcake has been an integral part of the Christmas season in England. In the United States fruit cake is also quite popular as a Christmas gift. Unfortunately, I don’t know many people who bake their own but rather buy commercially-made fruitcakes. Fruitcake usually consists of a combination of dried fruit, honey, and sometimes nuts. In the 1700s and 1800s making fruit cake was very labor intensive. Nowadays, they are readily available through many specialty food retailers.
Whether or not your Christmas celebration will include mince pies and fruitcake, it’s still fascinating to learn about Christmas customs from other countries.
