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Christmas Tradition of Mince Pies

12 OF THE BEST CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS TO FOLLOW

8th December 2020

Last Updated on 24th November 2022 by Bejal

Ever wondered why we follow certain Christmas traditions around the festive season but have absolutely no idea why we do? Yep me too. Worry not, I have researched them for you so you can wow your family and friends in-between the Christmas dinner and the Queen’s speech!

In This Article

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  • 12 Of The Best Christmas Traditions To Follow
  • #No.1 Mince Pies
  • #No.2. Christmas Pudding
  • #No.3. Kissing Under the Mistletoe
  • #No.4 Gingerbread
  • #No.5 Father Christmas
  • #No. 6 Boxing Day
  • #No. 7 Christmas Eve
  • #No. 8 Holly & Ivy
  • #No. 9 Mulled Wine
  • #No. 10 Christmas Crackers
  • #No.11 Poinsettias
  • #No. 12 Festive Wreaths
  • À bientôt
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Christmas baubles on background

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Christmas Traditions Pinterest Pin

12 Of The Best Christmas Traditions To Follow

#No.1 Mince Pies

Originally in the medieval times, these savoury pies contained beef, mutton or rabbit and were a good way to preserve meat in the winter months that prevailed over Christmas, however in 1413, King Henry V served mincemeat in a pie with fruit containing nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. These spices were said to be symbolic of the gifts the three wise men gave baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Mince pies were originally made in an oval shape reminiscent of the crib whilst the top represents the cloth the baby Jesus was swaddles in.

Eventually meat no longer needed to be preserved and was replaced with fruits such as currants and raisins and the mincemeat mix in traditionally made on the first advent.

Mince Pies

#No.2. Christmas Pudding

Eventually meat no longer needed to be preserved and was replaced with fruits such as currants and raisins and the mincemeat mix in traditionally made on the first advent.

Christmas puddings originated in the 14th century as frumenty, a type of porridge, made form beef and mutton with raisins, currents, prunes, wines and spices. It was a little like a soup and eaten as a fasting meal in preparation for Christmas. It was later thickened with eggs and called a plum pudding and in the Victorian times, King George I introduced it as the Christmas pudding we eat today.

The traditional sprig of holy on top represents Jesus’s crown, which he wore when he was crucified, and the brandy butter poured over the top is used to represent his love and power.

Christmas Pudding Recipe

Christmas Pudding
Photo Courtesy: Sainsbury’s Magazine

#No.3. Kissing Under the Mistletoe

Mistletoe dates back to the time of the druids and is supposed to possess mystical powers, which when hung in houses, bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.

The custom of kissing under the mistletoe comes from England and was actually illustrated in the first version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ after it was seen on stage.

Mistletoe
Photo Courtesy: Matt Seymour (Unsplash)

Fun Fact Mistletoe comes from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘Mistel’, meaning dung and ‘tan’ meaning twig, translating to poo on a stick! You’ll always remember that when kissing under the Mistletoe now won’t you?

#No.4 Gingerbread

Ginger was first used as a medicinal ingredient in the middle ages as it is today but the popularity of gingerbread came about in Germany where the traditional spices of cloves, cardamon, cinnamon were combined with molasses and flour. Women in Germany would eat Gingerbread men if they were seeking to marry soon. It was actually Hansel & Gretel who made the Gingerbread house famous as we know it today!

Gingerbread Men

#No.5 Father Christmas

Santa Claus is based on a real person, St. Nicholas, who was a Bishop and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking, which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children’s stockings.

In England the name Father Christmas was adopted as Christmas was known as an old winter festival and in 1866 Thomas Nast depicted Father Christmas as wearing a big white beard. Hence his festive aesthetics today! I think this is one Christmas tradition, which will be here to stay with the kiddos forever!

Christmas Tradition of Crackers

#No. 6 Boxing Day

Christmas Tradition of Boxing day
Photo Courtesy: Kari Shea (Unsplash)

The 26th December in the middle ages was when the alms collection box in churches was opened to distribute the contents to the poor. It was also the day when rich land owners would give their gifts to those who worked for them and gave them a day off to celebrate Christmas with their own families.

Did you know Boxing day is also St Stephens day when the carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’ is set and depicts a king who helps the poor? This is where the Victorian view of being Charitable comes from and is still observed, ‘Good will to all men’ and ‘the season of good will’.

#No. 7 Christmas Eve

Evergreen fir trees have been used to celebrate pagan and Christian winter festivals for thousands of years. The Romans even decorated their temples with fir tree branches as an everlasting life with God. Nobody is really sure when Fir trees were first used as Christmas trees. It probably began about 1000 years ago in Northern Europe. The idea of decorating then is said to have originated in Germany where they were adorned with edible things such as cloves and oranges but replaced during Victorian times with more ornamental baubles.

Christmas Tree

#No. 8 Holly & Ivy

Evergreen fir trees have been used to celebrate pagan and Christian winter festivals for thousands of years. The Romans even decorated their temples with fir tree branches as an everlasting life with God. Nobody is really sure when Fir trees were first used as Christmas trees. It probably began about 1000 years ago in Northern Europe. The idea of decorating then is said to have originated in Germany where they were adorned with edible things such as cloves and oranges but replaced during Victorian times with more ornamental baubles.

Holly and Ivy

#No. 9 Mulled Wine

Mulled wine originated in the 12th century. It was created by the Romans who would heat wine to defend their bodies against the cold winter. In the 1890s, when glögg became associated with Christmas. The spices used in Mulled wine are thought to be warming and resemble gifts that the wise men took to baby Jesus. Mulled wine id definitely one of those Christmas traditions we can all get on board with!

Christmas Traditions

#No. 10 Christmas Crackers

Legend has it that in the 19th century sweet maker, Tom Smith was sitting in front of his fire and the sparks and cracks coming from it made him think of a fancy sweet, which when opened could spark! Here was born the cracker as we know it with a sweet, small toy and joke as the surprise inside. Today crackers are a huge Christmas tradition, which are filled with all kinds of luxury and novelty gifts!

Christmas Cracker

#No.11 Poinsettias

The Poinsettia is the national emblem of Madagascar and it is thought that the flower and the leaves are sometimes thought to be a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, which led the three wise men to Jesus in the stable. The red coloured leaves symbolise the blood of Christ and the white leaves show his purity.

Ponsettias

#No. 12 Festive Wreaths

Christmas wreaths have a very beautiful meaning as far as Christmas traditions go. They made of evergreen foliage and represent everlasting life. The circular shape is thought to represent god with no beginning and no end.

Christmas Wreath

Related Articles to Christmas Traditions

  • Eco-friendly Christmas Tree Ideas
  • Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas & Stocking Fillers

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Christmas Traditions Pinterest Pin
Christmas Traditions Pinterest Pin

14 Comments
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Bejal

I’m Bejal aka Be, an ex-scientist turned travel writer and digital content creator. I have travelled to 6 continents, visited 70 plus countries, including an around the world trip, making me quite the expert in crafting intricate itineraries. I love to discover some of the world's more remote destinations and stay in some incredible hidden location eco-hotels. My aim is to transport you, my audience, to inspirational and cultural global spots that are less visited and allow you to see the 'real' and authentic side of destinations through detailed guides with a sprinkling of luxury. The spotlight is on eco-friendly responsible experiential travel with lifelong memories.

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  • Neha
    9th December 2020

    Love a tradition and these are amazing facts! Funny how even Xmas pudding used to have meat.

    Reply
    • Bejal
      Neha
      9th December 2020

      Thankyou very much for reading and yes totally, I can’t even imagine it but I did actually used to thing mince pies had real meat in them when people said mince meat!So I didn’t eat them for ages!!!

      Reply
  • Diary of a Londoness
    10th December 2020

    What a fun read. I won’t be looking at holly and ivy the same way again. Or poinsettias for that matter! Tom Smith was a clever boy, wasn’t he. I imagine he must have been a lot of fun to be around.

    Reply
    • Bejal
      Diary of a Londoness
      10th December 2020

      Thanks Scarlett! That’s super kind of you! haha I’m actually no fan of poinsettias!! Yes agree with Tom! I do love Christmas Crackers too!

      Reply
  • Krupali
    10th December 2020

    Love this post and it’s so informative! We eat gingerbread but don’t make it, we definitely have mulled wine, and we celebrated pretty much all the other traditions too!

    Reply
    • Bejal
      Krupali
      10th December 2020

      Thanks so much Krupali for reading. I like how you’re well and truly into Christmas Traditions! Long may they continue!

      Reply
  • Rubina
    10th December 2020

    Thanks for all these fab historic facts, many things which we take for granted! Soo good to know, it took me a while to workout that mincemeat didn’t actually have any meat in it ???? when I foolishly prepared a mince pie with actual mince at primary school ????..xxx

    Reply
    • Bejal
      Rubina
      10th December 2020

      Youre welcome and I have a similar experience with mince pies and it’s only recently I discovered they actually have no meat in them!You must tell me your story one day, it does sound pretty entertaining. B xx

      Reply
  • Scott McGlashan
    10th December 2020

    Wow I didn’t know any of this! So interesting ????

    Reply
    • Bejal
      Scott McGlashan
      10th December 2020

      I know right? Neither did I so I decided to do a spot of research! There’s so many other traditions, may have to cover them next year!

      Reply
  • Louise
    10th December 2020

    Poor Baby Jesus ???? Nah, I’m just kidding! You know how I feel about mince pies! I need to try the luxury version out though! It might convert me to a mincepie believer ????

    Reply
    • Bejal
      Louise
      12th December 2020

      Oh Yes now I think you need to try those out and tell me what you think! Like I say they converted me!!

      Reply
  • sarah0711
    12th December 2021

    Love this! I knew some of these but definitely not about poinsettia’s!

    Reply
    • Bejal
      sarah0711
      12th December 2021

      Aww thanks so much for reading Sarah! Really interesting and I had no idea before I started researching!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Bejal aka Be
Lets get acquainted

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Hello, I'm Be, an ex-scientist turned travel writer and digital content creator having travelled to 70 plus countries, all over the globe. My aim is to transport you to less visited inspirational and cultural global spots showing off the 'real' authentic side of destinations through detailed guides with a sprinkling of luxury. The spotlight is on eco-friendly responsible travel with lots of coffee spots and veggie food thrown in!

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