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The Origins of Our Beloved Christmas Day Feast

There’s something truly magical about Christmas Day in the UK - the twinkling lights, the festive cheer, and, of course, the sumptuous feast that brings everyone together.

But have you ever paused between bites of your Christmas pudding to wonder about the origins of these traditional dishes? Let’s embark on a culinary journey through history, supported by classic literary references, to uncover the stories behind our favourite festive foods and drinks.

Along the way, we’ll see how the Christmas spirit, as captured in timeless tales, still influences how we celebrate—both in what we eat and in the compassion, generosity, and joy we share.

I've included a link to the Christmas stories I am talking about on Project Guttenberg so you can download them.  Why not take the opportunity to indulge in Jolabokaflod, the Icelandic tradition of giving a book on Christmas Eve, by reading one of the classic stories in this blog?

Roast Turkey: A New World Arrival
The centrepiece of most British Christmas dinners, the roast turkey, wasn’t always the bird of choice. Before the 16th century, people feasted on goose, peacock, or even boar’s head. It wasn’t until the turkey was brought to Britain from the Americas in the 1520s that it began to grace our festive tables. King Henry VIII is believed to be one of the first English monarchs to savour turkey at Christmas. Its popularity soared because it was large enough to feed a family and didn’t require sparing the more valuable farm animals.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (1843), in which Ebenezer Scrooge sends a “prize turkey” to the Cratchits, exemplifies how turkey became the emblem of a generous, heartfelt Christmas. This act of kindness symbolises not just culinary preference but the moral heart of the season.

Learn more about the turkey’s history here and read A Christmas Carol on Project Gutenberg here.
​

Stuffing: More Than Just an Accompaniment
Stuffing has been enhancing festive roasts since Roman times. Originally a frugal means of using stale bread and offal, it evolved into a seasoned companion that perfectly complements the richness of roast meats. Sage and onion became the British standard, believed to aid digestion after a hearty meal.

Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle (1892) features a Christmas goose at the heart of a mystery. While the stuffing itself isn’t the plot’s centre, the presence of a Christmas bird filled with seasonal flavours captures the importance of well-stuffed poultry at festive tables.

Discover the history of stuffing here and read The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle (part of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) here.  For the perfect stuffing recipe try out Mary Berry's here

Brussels Sprouts: Tiny Greens with a Big History
Love them or loathe them, Brussels sprouts are a British Christmas staple. Cultivated in Belgium since the 13th century, their arrival in Britain in the 19th century ensured these mini-cabbages became a wintertime must-have. Their seasonality ties them to the festive meal.

The modest Christmas feasts depicted in Hans Christian Andersen’s stories—while not always specifying sprouts—reflect the humble origins of many traditional dishes. Tales like The Little Match Girl (1845) focus on compassion and empathy during the holiday, mirroring the honest simplicity of seasonal vegetables that have fed countless families through cold winters.

Learn about Brussels sprouts here and read The Little Match Girl here.
Fine the recipe for this dish here
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Christmas Pudding: A Stirring Tradition
Our rich and fruity Christmas pudding descends from medieval frumenty—a mix of grains, meat, and spices. Over centuries, it morphed into the sweet, boozy pudding we know today. Victorian Britain cemented the tradition of each family member giving it a stir and making a wish, as immortalised by Dickens.

In The Chimes (1844), another Dickens Christmas novella, we encounter themes of hope and redemption, just as in A Christmas Carol. While not pudding-centric, the moral lessons and communal spirit in Dickens’ Christmas tales reflect the shared ritual of preparing and savouring the pudding.

Read about Christmas pudding here, explore The Chimes here, and revisit A Christmas Carol here.

Mince Pies: From Savoury to Sweet
Mince pies once contained actual minced meat blended with fruits and spices. Over time, the meat faded away, leaving behind a fragrant, fruity treat. By the Victorian era, mince pies were firmly established as a sweet holiday indulgence.

O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi (1905) underscores that the true sweetness of Christmas lies in love and sacrifice, rather than in the pies themselves. Yet, the gentle pleasure of sharing treats like mince pies echoes the story’s tender spirit.

Explore the history of mince pies here and read The Gift of the Magi here.
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Cranberry Sauce: An American Influence
Cranberries, native to North America, travelled across the Atlantic to become a modern British festive staple. Their tartness lightens the richness of the Christmas meal, illustrating how traditions constantly evolve through cultural exchange.

In E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (1816), a child’s dreamlike journey through magical kingdoms suggests the global tapestry of Christmas traditions. While cranberry sauce doesn’t appear in these older European tales, the story’s sense of wonder mirrors the way new flavours enrich our festive table.
​

Find out about cranberry sauce here and read The Nutcracker and the Mouse King here.
Click here to make the recipe for the cranberry sauce pictured
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The Rise of Vegetarianism: A New Tradition Takes Root
Recently, many British households have embraced vegetarian and vegan options at Christmas. Nut roasts, rich root-vegetable wellingtons, and lentil bakes now share the spotlight with traditional meats. This reflects not only health and environmental considerations but also the inclusivity and empathy central to the holiday spirit.

Stories like Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen (1844), while not strictly “Christmas” in theme, evoke the resilience and compassion synonymous with the season. The idea that everyone deserves warmth and nourishment aligns with adding plant-based options to our holiday feasts.

Learn more about vegetarian Christmas traditions here and explore The Snow Queen here.
Want to make the butternut squash nut roast pictured?  Then click here.

Christmas Day Drinks: Raising a Glass to Tradition
Mulled wine, with medieval European roots, warms the heart and wards off winter chills. Eggnog, initially a medieval British “posset,” has long since become a festive staple. Champagne and sparkling wines add celebratory fizz, while Christmas ales and punches fill mugs with seasonal cheer.

Clement Clarke Moore’s poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (1823), better known as ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, captures the anticipation and comfort of the season, perfectly complementing the convivial atmosphere created by festive drinks.

Discover the history of Christmas drinks here and read A Visit from St. Nicholas here.

Want to make a fantastic non-alcoholic alternative to mulled wine? 
Why not try Judith's fruit punch.  
Ingredients
2 Cinnamon Sticks
4 tbsp clear honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
12 cloves
Rind of 2 oranges, in strips
1 litre carton of cranberry juice
​Handful of dried cranberries
Method

1. Gently heat the cranberry juice.
   
2. Add the honey and vanilla extract and stir until the honey has dissolved.
   
3. Add the orange rind, cinnamon sticks and dried cranberries and heat through.
   
4. Strain into a warmed serving jug and serve warm.
   

Cooks Tip : This tastes best when served at a temperature of around 38-40ºC

A Tapestry of Stories and Traditions
Our Christmas feast is a culinary tapestry woven from centuries of history and interwoven with classic tales. From Dickens to Andersen, from Doyle to Hoffmann, these stories reflect our changing values, reminding us that the holiday’s true essence is generosity, compassion, and joy.
    •    Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (1938), while a crime novel, sets its mystery against a festive backdrop of family feasting and secret resentments. Not available in the public domain, you can read more about it on the Agatha Christie website here. Its setting underscores how culinary traditions and festive gatherings often serve as the stage for human drama and reconciliation.
    •    Beatrix Potter’s The Tailor of Gloucester (1903) features mice who complete a beautiful waistcoat for Christmas. While no lavish feast is at the centre, the spirit of giving and helping one another resonates with the ethos of the Christmas meal. 
    •    Charles Dickens’ The Chimes speaks to the moral and communal lessons tied to the season, while Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl reminds us of the less fortunate—a call to share our bounties with those in need.

While Hercule Poirot’s Christmas isn’t available on Project Gutenberg due to its copyright status, you can still read many other public-domain classics that capture the festive spirit and culinary traditions of Christmas:
    •    A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
    •    The Chimes by Charles Dickens
    •    The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
    •    The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann
    •    The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle (in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
    •    A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
    •    The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen
    •    The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
    •    The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter

Each dish and drink on the Christmas table tells a story of cultural exchange, historical shift, and moral reflection. From the turkey embraced by Ebenezer Scrooge’s newfound generosity to the vegetarian dishes that honour everyone’s needs, our Christmas feast evolves with time—just as our cherished stories do.

This holiday season, as you gather around the table, remember these tales and their lessons. The richness of the feast and the warmth of shared traditions are amplified when we understand the histories and values that simmer beneath every plate and glass.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas, filled with kindness, laughter, and, of course, delicious food and drink!

Even with my birthday being in October, and many of the Christmas gifts being in the shops in September I didn't mind.  There was more chance I'd get an exciting birthday present because of it. 

In those heady days of the 70s, as a child, Halloweven wasn't really an event in South London.  So, it would be Christmas presents on sale September / October, then fireworks late October to 5th November and suddenly all the shops had Christmas decorations.  If you had an artificial tree (normally silver tinsel!) you could put it up in early December, but for those of us who had a real tree, then it would be week before Christmas.

For those, who, like my father gate keep when Christmas can start (normally after their birthdays), it smacks of those Bridezillas who won’t let others do anything during their wedding year.  

We each need to choose when our own Christmases start for us.

The idea of making New Year's resolutions goes back to ancient times when people would make promises to the gods to improve their behaviour or to atone for past misdeeds. 

The ancient Babylonians are believed to be the first civilization to make New Year's resolutions, and they would make promises to their gods to pay their debts and return borrowed objects. 

In ancient Rome, the custom was to would make promises to the god Janus, who was the god of beginnings and endings. They believed that by making resolutions and keeping them, they could bring good luck and prosperity in the new year. 

The modern tradition of making New Year's resolutions has its roots in these ancient customs.

​Today, people around the world make resolutions as a way of setting goals and making positive changes in their lives. Some common New Year's resolutions include resolving to lose weight, quit smoking, save money, or spend more time with family and friends.

In 2020, the New York Post reported that: 

​Feb. 1 is the day we call it quits on our New Year’s resolutions, according to new research.

A new poll of 2,000 Americans found that it takes just 32 days for the average person to finally break their resolution(s) — but 68% report giving up their resolutions even sooner than that.

In fact, one in seven Americans never actually believe they’ll see their resolution through in the first place.

The top reason our resolutions don’t stick is a self-aware lack of discipline (52%), followed by busy schedules and lacking the proper time to see them through (43%).

Nowadays, people will often decide to take part in national initiatives in order keep their motivation up.  After the excesses of Christmas Dry January or Veganuary may seem attractive.  And you will start to see posts on social media where people will tell you all about what they are planning on doing.  The idea is that by making your resolution public, you are more likely to keep to it as it puts peer / social pressure on you.

12% of all new gym members join in January [IHRSA - 2019] but by February the memberships are normally gathering dust in someone's wallet.

Studies show that only about 25% of those who make resolutions fail at the 1 week mark, with another 40% reporting failure at 1 month. And those who fail at keeping their resolutions experience lowered self-esteem, sadness and depression.

So, I've decided to make some resolutions that I can keep and that will help me with my self-esteem, happiness and wellbeing.

1. Be creative
When you battle with depression, anxiety and, in my case, imposter syndrome, then it's easy to just stop creating.

So, for 2023, I am resolving to enjoy being creative. 

There are so many free knitting and crochet patterns out there that you can become overwhelmed with what to choose for your next project.  Looking at my fabric stash there are so many projects I could make but I just walk away and don't make anything.

I'm going to go with the flow. 

I look at my Ravelry projects and it is reassuring to see all the things I've knitted and crocheted these past few years.  I learnt to crochet in March 2013 when I made 72 flowers as part of a flower bombing at the Radcliffe Camera.  Then, in 2017 I taught myself to knit.  I have also made and taught lacemaking since 1988.  Creating things gives me an immense sense of satisfaction.  Not just from the finish item, but from the process of choosing what to make and that act of creation.

This year I've made things that I've liked the look of, used interesting materials or taught me a new skill. I've made things using my stash and also made things where I've bought the yarn and materials for.

I'm going to go into 2023 and make things that bring me pleasure.

2. Be a little selfish
I have been conditioned to put other people first.  My father used to tell me how I was born to look after him in his old age ... After all, that's why you have children!

So, in 2023, I'm going to be a little bit selfish.  At my work, I'm encouraged to put time in my diary each month for self-study and professional development.  

I'm going to do that in my personal life.  I'm going to put time aside to read, to make and to listen to music.

3. Do little things to make you happy
It's likely that my sister won't remember this, but she gave me a piece of advice just before my 30th birthday.  She told me to always have a bottle of champagne in the fridge so that I had a cold bottle ready to celebrate anything or to cheer myself up.

So, I bought a bottle and put it in my fridge on my 30th birthday.  Since then, there has been a bottle of fizz in my fridge until I took it out the week before Xmas when the fridge broke.  It's not the same one, I just replace it when it gets used.

I don't drink much these days.  I've just got out of the habit.  But on the last working day before Christmas, we had a Christmas Quiz and drinks.  I treated myself to a can of Pimms and it was wonderful to relax with my colleagues over video, answers silly quizzes and have a drink together.  

Each night, just before I go to bed, I have a quick spritz of Eau de Jardins (Clarins) as I love the smell and it reminds me of good times with my sister.

So, I'm going to keep a stash of my favourite fruit tea to indulge myself when I want a pick me up and I'm not going to save the posh shower gel anymore.  I'm going to use it as a treat once a week.