Category Archives: Christmas

A Christmas Cake, 1861

Posted on December 24, 2013 by kayjayaitch

For this one I only have the images, no text. The four images begin with the ingredients laid out though to be fair, the method would be that of any other rich fruit cake recipe. Regard it as a sort … Continue reading →

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A Traditional Christmas Dinner!

Posted on December 23, 2013 by kayjayaitch

The traditional British Christmas Dinner is usually served in the afternoon, around three o’clock (it is in my home anyway) and is a free for all feast for family and invited friends. Since I myself am working away this year, … Continue reading →

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Dickens’s A Christmas Carol at 170

Posted on December 22, 2013 by kayjayaitch

This struck a chord with me and goes into more detail than I would normally. A well presented article, I enjoyed reading it. Nicely done. The surprising story behind Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens’s classic Christmas tale A Christmas Carol was … Continue reading →

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Pfeffernüsse Pastries

Posted on December 22, 2013 by kayjayaitch

Pfeffernüsse are fluffy pastries made with ground nuts and spices, somewhat akin to maccaroons. Like the spekulatius, the biscuit has been part of European yuletide celebrations since the mid nineteenth century. Popular in Germany, Denmark, and The Netherlands as a … Continue reading →

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Santa By Any Other Name . . .

Posted on December 21, 2013 by kayjayaitch

Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Sinterklaas, Odin, Baba Christmas, Babbo Natale, Black Peter, Christkindl, Ded Moroz, Gwiazdor, Joulupukki, Kanakaloka, Kerstman, Mos Craciun, Pere Noel, Sion Corn, Shengdan Laoren . . . Santa  is a mythical figure with … Continue reading →

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Traditional Christmas Breads – France

Posted on December 17, 2013 by kayjayaitch

The ‘fancy’ fruit bread has been a staple throughout the decades as a celebratory snack or simply a nicely presented tea-time treat for that ‘important’ guest! It has less fruit content than the French Fruit Braid shown here, where it … Continue reading →

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A Dickensian Christmas

Posted on December 15, 2013 by kayjayaitch

Christmas (Old English: Cri-stesmæsse, meaning “Christ’s Mass”) is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ that is a widely observed global holiday, celebrated generally on December 25th. While the birth year of Jesus is estimated among modern historians … Continue reading →

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A Bird For Christmas

Posted on December 13, 2013 by kayjayaitch

The turkey is a relative newcomer in the ‘festive feasting’ stakes with both the goose and the pheasant having a longer pedigree in such things. It has taken many different forms and guises since it first appeared in England during … Continue reading →

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Christmas Pudding!

Posted on November 27, 2013 by kayjayaitch

The traditional Christmas pudding is as essential to the British Christmas as it ever was! But what exactly is a traditional Christmas Pudding? The early Christmas puddings contained meat, usually mutton or beef, as well as onions, wine, spices and … Continue reading →

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Christmas Is Coming . . .

Posted on November 12, 2013 by kayjayaitch

  The Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count down or celebrate the days in anticipation of Christmas. Most begin on December 1st regardless of when the Christian festival of Advent actually begins and usually takes the form … Continue reading →

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