Have you ever wondered about the origins of mince pies? These delectable treats have a rich history that spans centuries. In this blog post, we will explore the fascinating journey of mince pies, from their humble beginnings to their status as a beloved holiday tradition.
What are Mince Pies?
Mince pies are small, sweet pastries filled with a mixture known as mincemeat. Contrary to their name, modern mince pies do not contain meat. Instead, the filling is made from a combination of dried fruits, spices, suet, and sometimes alcohol. The flavors meld together to create a deliciously rich and aromatic filling.
The Early Origins
The history of mince pies can be traced back to the Middle Ages. During this time, mince pies were known as "Christmas pies" and were filled with a mixture of minced meat, fruits, and spices. These pies were often shaped like a manger to symbolize the birth of Jesus.
Originally, mince pies were larger and rectangular in shape. They were also much more savory, as the inclusion of meat was a common practice. Over time, the recipe evolved to include more sweet ingredients and the size of the pies became smaller.
Symbolism and Tradition
Mince pies have long been associated with Christmas and are an integral part of holiday celebrations in many countries. In England, it is believed that eating mince pies on each of the twelve days of Christmas brings good luck for the coming year.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, mince pies were briefly banned by Puritans who considered them a symbol of Catholicism. However, the ban was lifted after the restoration of the monarchy, and mince pies regained their popularity.
Evolution of the Recipe
As time went on, the recipe for mince pies continued to evolve. The inclusion of meat gradually diminished, and by the 19th century, meat was no longer a common ingredient. Instead, suet became the main fat used in the filling.
In the Victorian era, mince pies became associated with luxury and indulgence. The filling was often made with expensive ingredients such as brandy, candied peel, and exotic spices. Mince pies became a symbol of wealth and were served as a decadent treat during Christmas festivities.
Mince Pies Today
In modern times, mince pies have become a staple of Christmas celebrations treats around the world. The recipe has been adapted to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. Vegetarian and vegan versions are now widely available, ensuring that everyone can enjoy this festive treat.
Whether you prefer your mince pies with a dollop of cream or a scoop of ice cream, there's no denying the enduring appeal of these delightful pastries. So, as you savor each bite of a mince pie this holiday season, take a moment to appreciate the rich history and tradition that goes into every mouthful.
FAQs
Many believe the idea for the mince pie originated with Middle Eastern cuisine in the 12th century, when spices and fruit were often used in savory and sweet meat dishes. Before refrigeration, spices and sugars were used for preservation to slow down spoilage.
What is the tradition of eating the 12 mince pies? ›
They became a popular treat around the festive period thanks to a tradition from the middle ages, which saw people eat a mince pie for 12 days from Christmas day to Twelfth Night. Doing this was believed to bring you happiness for the next 12 months.
What was originally the making of the case of mincemeat pies at Christmas was meant to Symbolise? ›
The original mince pies were oblong crib shapes decorated with a baby Jesus on top. The contents represent the gifts of the Magi to the Christ child, spices and plump middle eastern fruits.
Did true or false mince pies once contained actual mince? ›
The reason mincemeat is called meat is because that's exactly what it used to be: most often mutton, but also beef, rabbit, pork or game. 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.
What do mince pies symbolize? ›
However, the mince pie was originally a savoury pie – and not even round! In the Tudor period they were rectangular, shaped like a manger and often had a pastry baby Jesus on the lid. They were made from 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and his disciples and were all symbolic to the Christmas story.
Why do they call it mincemeat? ›
Mincemeat is a combination of chopped dried fruits, spices, sugar, nuts, distilled spirits, a fat of some type and sometimes meat. The name is a carryover from 15th century England when mincemeat did indeed have meat in the mix; in fact, the whole point of mincemeat was to preserve meat with sugar and alcohol.
Why can't you eat mince pies on Christmas day? ›
It has been claimed that eating the snack is illegal in England if done so on Christmas Day. The tradition comes from the time of Oliver Cromwell in the 1650s, when mince pies were banned at Christmas, along with other tasty treats. Cromwell wanted to tackle gluttony in England.
Why do mince pies have no meat? ›
The mince pie was originally filled with meat but it's believed that it wasn't until the late Victorian period and the early 20th century that mince pies shifted to a pie made from fruit fillings. Is it still illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas day?
Why do we leave mince pies at Christmas? ›
During medieval times it was common to mix sweet and savoury ingredients. Honey and dried fruits were pricey and hard to come by so using them in your meals was a sign of wealth. This made spiced pies a special treat reserved for important occasions like Easter or Christmas.
What is the superstition about mince pies? ›
One superstition from the middle ages suggests that if you eat a mince pie every day from Christmas day to Twelfth Night (evening of the 5th January) you will be guaranteed happiness for the next 12 months mmmm!
In any case, meat and fruit were invariably included among the ingredients. Going back even further, however, there are some who believe mincemeat pie is based on an ancient pagan tradition of serving coffin-shaped cakes representing Osiris—the Egyptian god who, according to legend, died and was resurrected each year.
Do Americans eat Christmas mince pies? ›
Mince pies are not commonly consumed in the US outside of the New England region.
Were mince pies illegal? ›
Some speculation has it that mince pies were illegal to eat on the day of Christmas. However, the only Christmas Day where eating mince pies was illegal was 1644 due to December falling on a day of fasting. Eat all of the mince pies to your heart's desires!
What is the difference between mincemeat and mince pie? ›
They are two completely different kinds of pies. Mince pie, also known as mincemeat pie, is made of fruits and contains no meat. It is sweet. A meat pie is savory or spicy and is usually a fried pie, filled with ground meat and onions, spices like cumin, chili peppers, etc.
Is there real meat in mince pies? ›
Nowadays, it's easy to find mincemeat pies still made with beef suet and a small amount of minced meats (usually beef). All-vegetarian mincemeat pies are readily available as well, especially if you purchase a premade jar of mincemeat filling.
Why do we eat mince pies at Christmas? ›
Mince pies were originally made to celebrate Jesus. They were oblong in shape to represent the manger that Jesus slept in as a baby and have a 'pastry baby Jesus' carved into the pastry. Traditionally one mince pie is eaten for the Twelve days of Christmas.
What is an interesting fact about mince pies? ›
Mince pies, at Christmas time, were traditionally shaped in an oblong shape, to resemble a manger and were often topped with a depiction of the Christ Child. The early mince pie was known by several names, including "mutton pie", "shrid pie" and "Christmas pie".
Why do we leave mince pies for Santa? ›
So all traditions come from somewhere, right? And the tradition of leaving mince pies and milk for Santa actually originated in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, December 6th is Festival of St. Nicholas, with children all over the country leaving food offerings for the Saint, in exchange for presents.
Did mince pies used to be coffin-shaped? ›
TAKE ONE COFFIN…
Our mince pies undoubtedly have medieval origins, although we would not immediately recognise them. Pie crusts were known as coffins, and used as a vessel to cook delicate foods or house pre-boiled meat fillings. Pastry was little more than flour mixed with water to form a mouldable dough.
