Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-24
OPPOSITION TO MINcE PIE.

OPPOSITION TO MINCE PIE.
But the Puritans were not alone in their op-
position to mince or Christmas pie. The
Quakers also fought against il. and at length
even many good people of the Church of Eng
land began to think that clergymen should alb
stain from it. against which prejudice Bicker-
static thus demonstrates: 1.-The Christmas pie
Is, in Its own nature, a kind of consecrated
cake or badge of distinction, and vet il il often
forbidden the druid of the family Strange
that sirloin of beef, whether boiled or roasted,
when entire Is exposed to the utmost depreda-
tons and invasions. but if minced into small
pieces and tossed up with plums and sugar it
changes the property, and forsooth is meat for
his MASTER"
Selden. the antiquary, tells us that Christ
mas pies were formerly baked in a coffin
shaped crust TO represent the cratch or Manager
in which our Saviour was laid.
PLUM PUDDING OF OLD ENGLAND.
great deal has been said, written and sung
about the plum pudding of Old England, but
centuries ago it had formidable rival for
epicurean favor known as plum pottage or por-
ridge. 1t consisted Of beet or mutton made
into broth. thickened with brown bread,
which was then thoroughly boiled after raisins.
currants, prunes, cloves, mace and ginger had
been added. This dish is now entirely obso-
lete, though poor Richards almanac men,
tions it as late as 1850, and Mrs. Frazer. who
published cook book in Edinburgh in 1871.
lcfStil Oh ltS ute page a9 the ONLY
teacher of the great art of cookery in that city
gives a recipe for making it, while Brand. the
popular antiquary tells how he partook of il
at n Christmas dinner il the mansion of an
Old English gentleman in 1891. but it has long
since been wholly supplemented by plum pud-
ding. The origin of the latter is yelled in
obscurisy. The earliest cook book which
makes any reference to it is the one by Mrs.
Frazer already referred to a. containing a re-
cipe for plum pottage.
QUAINT CUSTOMS OBSERVED.
Many quaint customs are obcrved at Christ
mas time in various English country parishes
In that of Cumnor. in Berkshire, of which the
living Ia a vicarage and the church beautiful
specimen of an old English parochial edidce,
all who pay tithes repair, after evening service
on Christmas day, to the yicarage, where the
vicar is held in duty bound, by usage centuries
old, to regale them with four bushels of malt
brewed intO ale or beer. two bushels of wheat
baked into bread, and half hundred weight of
cheese. Any remnants of the feast are dis
tributed among this. poor of the par
ish after morning prayer the next day.
The noblest Observances of Christmas are its
charities. In all ages and among all peoples
the poor have always been beautifully remem-
bered on that day. and in many parts Of Eng
land and Scotland even the lower animals are
given an extra feeding that they too, may have
cause for rejoicing when all mankind are glad.
Many readers will remember Burns address of
the auld farmer to his mare when presenting
her with an extra feed of corn on New Year s
day.
"A guild New Year wish thee, Maggie. Haze,
there's a ripp to thy auld baggie.''
The Puritans who came over in the Mayfower
and landed on Plymouth Rock like their ances-
tors, looked frowningiy upon any special OBJ
servance of Christmas, and the effects of that
prejudice were felt in New England for many
years. Happily they have long since passed away.
and it may now be truly said that the celebra-
ton of Christmas is universal in all parts of the
world where has been told the glad story of the
Holy Babe. who was born upon that day and
Graded in a manger ADAC NoRrHMOUR.