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Crackers for crackers weird English Christmas traditions

Every country has its own unique Christmas traditions – here are some that are most peculiar to the English… Christmas pudding

This fruity dessert started out life in the 14th century as a savoury pudding of mutton, beef, spices, dried fruit and wine called frumenty, only morphing into the meat-free dish we enjoy today in the Victorian era. It has traditions of its own, too. It’s probably the only pudding we’d dream of dousing in brandy and setting fire to – a practice which was said to represent the burning Passion of Christ, with the holly garnish on top representing the crown of thorns. And then there’s the addition of the “lucky” sixpence (now usually a five-pence piece) – although it does carry the risk of a lessthan-lucky cracked tooth for the finder! Boxing clever

The origins of Boxing Day date back several hundred years to a time when wealthy families would give their servants a rare day off on December 26th to spend with their families, sending them home with a Christmas gift box containing gifts, money and food. It was also traditionally the day when money collected throughout the year by churchgoers in an alms box would be distributed to the poor of the parish. Going crackers for crackers

While they’re now popular the world over, Christmas crackers were invented in the mid-19th century by a London confectioner called Tom Smith. His first attempt was more or less a straight copy of French festive bon bons – sugared almonds wrapped in a twist of coloured paper, inside which would be hidden a motto or riddle – and they were met with indifference. Then one night, sitting in front of a log fire and observing it spit and spark, he was inspired to add a crackle, and his Bangs of Expectation were born – although they quickly became known as Christmas crackers. Play your cards right

It was in 1843 that Sir Henry Cole, founder of the V&A museum in London, sent the world’s first Christmas card. Too busy to send detailed personal messages at Christmas, he asked his friend, the artist John Calcott Horsley, to design him a card printed with a festive greeting, which he could send out instead. By the 1860s, the idea had really caught on, and around a billion cards are sent in the UK alone every year. Who ate all the pies?

Like Christmas puddings, mince pies used to be filled with meat, typically mutton, and spiced with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg – said to be symbolic of the gifts given by the three wise men to the baby Jesus. They were also originally oval-shaped, to echo the crib, with the pastry top representing the swaddling cloth. And did you know that, according to one tradition, eating a mince pie on each of the 12 days of Christmas will bring you health and happiness for the following year?