Christmas trivia

Mince pies - a staple of Christmas, but why on earth is the filling called "mincemeat"? Well, originally it did contain meat, and was a way of preserving it by mixing it with fruit, spices and alcohol. But because the taste was essentially sweet, and as other ways were found of preserving meat it changed over the centuries into the dessert fruit pie we are used to today. Many mince pie recipes still use suet which today is the only remaining connection with its original meat-based origins. The association with Christmas is more of a mystery - the best guess (and that really is all that it is) is that the spices used were those brought back from the Holy Land by the Crusaders and therefore the original pies - which were big main-course pies - were seen as having religious significance, and as the shape was somewhat reminiscent of a cradle (they tended to sag in the middle), they were considered of particular relevance at Christmas. It was considered to be particularly lucky to eat a mince pie on each of the twelve days of Christmas. In the 17th century they were banned by Oliver Cromwell who was opposed to anything which gave people pleasure. Today you must leave one out for Father Christmas, who is very partial to them, as witnessed by his girth!