A Christmas pudding is the spirit or symbol of Christmas, but how many of us still eat it? Is it just a token Christmas card on the mantelpiece? Not many of us. We are always too full to eat the pudding, but if we have it, we eat figgy pudding. Those of you who know the history of our cats know that Figaro (cat) would always make an appearance.
It was first served as a porridge in the 14th century made from mutton, wines, spices to hide the flavour and dried fruit and eaten for breakfast. It sounds disgusting doesn’t it! The Puritans banned the eating of pudding and by 1650 it had changed to a plum pudding; more like what we know today.
Thanks or perhaps not thanks to the Victorians it is part of the festive table today.
Who still places charms in their pud? We do! Let’s look at the symbolism of the pudding. The lit brandy flames represent Jesus’ love and power whilst the holly is supposed to represent the crown. Or was it just used as one of the greens still alive in the garden at this time of year with a lovely red berry? Complementary colours?
The favours, such as the silver coin started off as a many sided three-penny bit, but earlier was a dried pea. The Victorians created more symbolism of course. Finding a button would mean you would stay single and if you were a woman and drew out a thimble that too would demonstrate that you would stay single. Why were the Victorians so hooked up on marriage and spinsterhood? Emily Pankhurst didn’t come soon enough!
My mosaic contains beads, copper gold tiles, porcelain tiles for the pudding, cut up china with gold edging for the plate and finally smalti to create the different colours of the blue flame. 38 x 35cm. A little festive decoration heirloom keepsake that can be displayed year on year. £180
aberdabbadoo 