Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2014/January 2015 | Page 97
pud
FOOD
L
ike Christmas, the traditional
Christmas pudding has changed
somewhat over the years. So with
the festive season drawing ever closer,
we thought it was time to discover the
origins of that once-a-year treat, that
can be served with a variety of toppings
from brandy to custard.
But that has not always been the case.
Christmas puddings originated as a
14th century porridge called 'frumenty'
that was made of beef and mutton
with raisins, currants, prunes, wines
and spices.
This would
often be more
like soup and
was eaten as a
fasting meal in
preparation for
the Christmas
festivities.
By 1595, it
was slowly
changing into a
plum pudding,
having been
thickened
with eggs,
breadcrumbs,
dried fruit and
given more
flavour with the addition of beer
and spirits. It became the customary
Christmas dessert around 1650, but
in 1664 the Puritans banned it as a
bad custom. But by Victorian times,
Christmas puddings had changed into
something similar to the ones that are
eaten today.
Over the years, many superstitions
have surrounded Christmas puddings.
One superstition says that the pudding
should be made with 13 ingredients
to represent Jesus and His Disciples
and that every member of the family
should take turns to stir the pudding
with a wooden spoon from east to
west, in honour of the Wise Men.
The decorative sprig of holly on the top
of the pudding is a reminder of Jesus'
Crown of Thorns that he wore when he
died on the cross. Brandy or another
alcoholic drink is sometimes poured
over the pudding and lit at the table to
make a spectacular display. This is said
to represent Jesus' love and power.
Putting a silver coin in the pudding is
another age-old custom that is said to
bring luck to the person that finds it. In
the UK the coin traditionally used was
a silver 'six pence'. The closest coin to
that now is a five pence piece!
Originally
a dried pea
or bean was
baked in it and
whoever got
it, was 'king or
queen' for the
night. There
are records of
this practice
going back to
the court of
Edward II in the
early 1300s.
The bean was
also sometimes
a silver ring or
a small crown.
The first coins
used were a silver farthing or penny.
After the First World War it became a
threepenny bit and then a sixpence.
Other items placed in the Christmas
Pudding were also meant to have
special meanings:
• Bachelor’s Button: If a single man
found it, they would be a bachelor for
the following year.
• Spinster’s/Old Maid's Thimble: If a
single woman found it, they would be
a spinster for the following year.
• A Ring: If a single person found this,
it meant you would get married the
following year. It also meant you
would be rich for the following year.
Christmas puddings
originated as a 14th
century porridge
called 'frumenty' that
was made of beef and
mutton with raisins,
currants, prunes,
wines and spices.
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