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 Begins
at 1pm and involves a large family gathering.
Now we eat Turkey, but this is a very recent idea introduced only 200
years ago from America where wild Turkeys were found.
Before this date we ate a much more exotic feast - Wild Boar, Roast
Swan and an amazing meal of boned Goose stuffed with a boned Capon,
stuffed with a Pheasant stuffed with a Quail!
Christmas
Crackers were invented by the baker to Queen Victoria and contained
chocolate bon bons,a paper crown, and a toy when pulled at the lunch
table.
Todays lunch usually comprises of the following courses;
Game Soup
Smoked Salmon
Turkey, Bread Sauce, Cranberry Sauce, Roast Parsnips, Brussel Sprouts
and Roast Potatoes
Sage and Onion Stuffing Sausage Meat force Balls
Stilton with Port
Christmas pudding with brandy butter
Mince Pies and Coffee
Tea Time; Christmas Cake
 Christmas
Pudding
First known in mediaeval times as Plum Porridge or Potage, made with
beef or tongue and veal stewed with prunes, raisins, currants, spices,
sugar, sack (a drink like wine) lemon juice and claret.
By
1800 the meat had been ommitted and only the dried fruit remained, together
with beef fat known as suet.
The
pudding must be stirred with a wooden spoon which symbolises Christ's
crib and you must make a wish when stirring it - everyone in the house
must do this for good luck. Inside the pudding you must place a ring
for marriage, a silver coin for worldly fortune a thimble for a good
life - but be careful that you don;t swallow it! Now pudding manufacturers
do not practise this tradition as you must be very careful not to have
an accident and get them stuck in your throat!。
Lit with flaming brandy and a piece of Holly put on top before serving.
Mince
Meat
Originally this was a 16th century way of preserving meat that had been
shredded or minced (beef or tongue) and mixed together with spices and
fruit(now we only use "suet" which is beef fat - no meat is used anymore).
They
were eaten at the beginning of the meal - known as 'Christmas pies'
theycombined both sweet and savoury ingredients - which was very popular.
It
is unlucky to ever refuse a mince pie, and you must leave a few out
for Santa when he visits on christmas eve!
CARON COOPER / FOSSE FARMHOUSE
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