Let’s tuck into some mince pies shall we? These much-loved Christmas treats started off as one thing then evolved into what many enjoy today. Let’s see how this evolution came to be.
According to the website Walkers, mince pies were first served in the early Middle Ages, and the pies were quite sizeable, filled with a mixture of finely minced meat, chopped up fruit and a preserving liquid.
It’s said that mincemeat originally came about as a good way of preserving meat, without salting, curing, smoking or drying it. The site explains that today’s mince pies bear little resemblance to the early versions, but as the recipes, methods and ingredients available have developed over the years, we have ended up with a tasty treat using the finest ingredients, made in the same way it has been for years – but with quite a difference from the original recipes driven more by necessity than by delight.
Mince pies are said to be laden with traditions and customs. Mincemeat would often be made on stir-up Sunday along with the Christmas pudding, the last Sunday before Advent. It’s quite important to know that this pudding was first made with meat. It has been said that English tradition is to stir the meat clockwise as anti-clockwise would produce bad luck and poor fortune in the coming 12 months.
The site also explained the reasons mince pies are so intricately linked with Christmas is complex. With its original content of meat and fats, it was superb for eating in the lean, dark winter months. A warm mince pie would feed you well and keep you happy as the storms raged outside the window! The trio of spices used – nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon – is said to be symbolic of the gifts given to the Baby Jesus by the three wise men in Bethlehem.
Originally, mince pies were often made in an oval shape, reminiscent of the crib in the manger where Christ was born, while the top represented the cloth he was swaddled in. Later on, different shapes became ways of showing off the skill of the best pastry makers, who would create intricate mince pies with stars, crescents, hearts, flowers and sugar knot gardens.
Today, mince pies do not necessarily feature meat, and they are made with pastry and a dried fruit mix and a whole lot of sweetness.
