Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2014/January 2015 | Page 111

changing
face
of

The

mince pies

M

ince Pies, like Christmas
Puddings, were originally filled
with meat, such as lamb, rather
than a dried fruit mix as they are today.
They were also first made in an oval shape
to represent the manger that Jesus slept
in as a baby, with the top representing his
swaddling clothes.
During the Stuart and Georgian times
in the UK, mince pies were very much
a status symbol at Christmas. Very rich
people liked to show off at their Christmas

parties by having pies made in different
shapes, like stars, crescents, hearts, tears
and flowers. Their fancy shaped pies
could often fit together a bit like a jigsaw.
They also looked like the 'knot gardens'
that were popular during those periods.
Having pies like this meant you were rich
and could afford to employ the best, and
most expensive, pastry cooks.
Now they are normally made in a round
shape and are eaten hot or cold. I like
mine hot with some ice cream!

A custom from the middle ages says
that if you eat a mince pie on every day
from Christmas to Twelfth Night (January
6) you will have happiness for the next
12 months. On Christmas Eve, children
often leave out mince pies and a drink
for Father Christmas, and a carrot for
the reindeer. Santa reckons Christmas
wouldn’t be the same without a mince pie
or two!

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