Preparation and Pennies - A Christmas Tradition

It seems to come around quicker every year and this year is no exception. Christmas is now just around the corner but you’ve probably seen mince pies and decorations in the shops since late summer. Seeing the rows of red and white wrapped chocolate in the supermarket while the weather is still nice can drive some of us mad, but the good news is that there’s method in the madness. Well, not necessarily for the chocolates and gifts, but Christmas preparations start early for a reason, and that reason has nothing to do with consumerism or getting us excited months early. For those well experienced in cooking Christmas dinner on the big day, they’ll know that preparation takes time. We’re not just talking about peeling sprouts here, but making sure puddings, cakes and treats are as good as they possibly can be can take months. Here’s why: Ever catch yourself eyeing up the Christmas cake in M&S and saying to yourself ‘they’re not the same as homemade ones’? The reason for that is the preparation time. A good, homemade Christmas cake should be made around two months early, though you can get away with cooking one up just four weeks before Santa (and the family) arrives.

Christmas cake is made up of a fantastic blend of spices, fruits, butter and flour, and the longer the ingredients are given to mature and blend together, the better the taste at the end of it. Some recipes even recommend wrapping your cake in newspaper or brown paper while it cooks in the oven to protect the sides from burning as the mixture is so thick. Our best tip though? Pour your cake a drink regularly. Whether it’s the taste of brandy or rum you prefer, top the cake up regularly to keep it moist and deepen the flavour. The alcohol has the second purpose of acting as a preservative too, without any nasty E numbers.

Even though those early Christmas preparations are traditionally connected to puddings and cakes, there is also a link to gift giving. As the Christmas cake needs early preparation (traditionally started the Sunday before Advent begins), families would throw a sixpence into the mix, inviting each family member to stir the ingredients and bestow a wish. The lucky one who bites into the sixpence on Christmas day was said to be granted good luck for the year ahead. Some families even kept the same coin to use each year, highlighting the tradition for their household.

Of course gift giving at Christmas originates from the story of the three kings, who presented Jesus with gold, frankincense and myrrh. As years passed it became common for landowners to give loyal and hardworking staff a Christmas Box, hence why we have Boxing Day today. These boxes would show the appreciation of their employers at Christmas, and have created the tradition of giving we have today in the form of receiving a Christmas bonus from our employers, tipping service people and being extra generous at the festivities approach.

So what are you waiting for? Stock up on your favourite fruits and spices today and get cooking!