Once Christmas was over I thought that was the end of the holidays. Then, I learned about Boxing Day. So, that got me thinking about other holidays. If you are as curious as I am, today is another holiday. Today, Friday December 27th is National Fruitcake Day. Yep, it's a real day. I personally don't care for Fruitcake but it's a fave of many.
Across the United States, fruitcake lovers young and old, commemorate National Fruitcake Day each year on December 27th.
Made with chopped candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices and sometimes soaked in spirits, fruitcake has been a holiday gift-giving tradition for many years.
Dating back to ancient Rome, one of the earliest known recipes lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins mixed into barley mash. Records indicate that in the Middle Ages, makers added honey, spices, and preserved fruits. Recipes for fruitcakes vary from country to country, depending on available ingredients and tradition.
In the 16th century, two achievements crystallized to make fruitcakes more affordable and accessible. First, sugar from the American Colonies became abundant. Second, it was discovered that high concentrations of sugar could preserve fruits. These two actions resulted in excess candied fruit. Consequently, fruitcake making grew.
Made with chopped candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices and sometimes soaked in spirits, fruitcake has been a holiday gift-giving tradition for many years.
Dating back to ancient Rome, one of the earliest known recipes lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins mixed into barley mash. Records indicate that in the Middle Ages, makers added honey, spices, and preserved fruits. Recipes for fruitcakes vary from country to country, depending on available ingredients and tradition.
In the 16th century, two achievements crystallized to make fruitcakes more affordable and accessible. First, sugar from the American Colonies became abundant. Second, it was discovered that high concentrations of sugar could preserve fruits. These two actions resulted in excess candied fruit. Consequently, fruitcake making grew.
- Typically, Americans produce fruitcakes abundant in fruit and nuts
- In America, mail-order fruitcake began in 1913.
- Charities often sell commercial fruitcakes from catalogs as a fundraising event.
- In 1935, the expression “nutty as a fruitcake” was coined. The phrase came about as a result of excess nuts some Southern bakeries added to their fruitcakes due to their access to cheap nuts.
- Most mass-produced fruitcakes in America are alcohol-free.
- Some traditional recipes include liqueurs or brandy. Bakers then complete the fruitcake by covering it with powdered sugar.
- Some fruitcake makers soaked their fruitcakes in brandy-soak linens believing the cakes improve with age.
ACTION STEP: HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalFruitcakeDayShare a fruitcake story or recipe. Or maybe share both. Invite someone to enjoy some fruitcake with you. No matter how you celebrate, use #NationalFruitcakeDay to post on social media.
Authors comments: It's interesting to me we as the created, we have so many traditions that have nothing to do with our creator. Even as I was writing this I realized He is our preserver. Without His presence in our life we rot and lose our fruitfulness. No matter what the holiday may be we can find the H O L Y inside the HOLidaY. God bless you today, in however you spend your #NationalFruitcakeDay.
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