Our sister just
loves fruitcake!
Ok, that statement may be an exaggeration… as a matter of fact- the more correct adjective might be
loathes.
Nonetheless, she has (for years) claimed that our dear grandmother has "nursed" a certain family heirloom and cultivates a rich heritage for her descendants. Yes-- my sister accuses Mae of keeping an ancient (and not-so-secret, cuz she blabs it aloud alot) family artifact. It's almost guaranteed that every year the topic is going to come up of the contentious item-
the fruitcake.
I'm not sure when Robin's abhorrence of the spicy cake loaded with brandied fruits and nuts came about- she has always liked fruits and nuts in almost everything (some of us didn't until we became adults a year or so ago!). Anyway-- there was a certain piece of crockery that has always lived in Mae's kitchens and yes, (she did in fact) used to store a fruitcake wrapped in cheesecloth and took out at least twice a week and soaked with brandy. But, it was a fresh fruitcake that was made each Fall and "liquored up" for weeks before Christmas. As a kid- I even recall being honored with the duty of unwrapping it and getting to douse it a time or two. At some point in time- the crockery was broken and there was some discussion about the most appropriate vessel to replace it.
Initially, I think a piece of Tupperware was used; and, maybe this is when the legend began to take on a life of it's own. Or, maybe it's when Robin became a hostess in her own domicile and realized she didn't have the dreaded millstone around her neck with which to contend. The supreme responsibility of caring for and presenting the hallowed fruitcake every year to the family that "oohed-and-awed" in unison while very silently shivering with dread and screwing up their noses just knowing that they were fixing to be served (only a very teeny-tiny) sliver of… the "roll-your-eyes-widely-when-you-utter-it"
fruitcake. Sheesh. Sounds revolting, doesn't it!
Universally- the very word "fruitcake" is uttered with a sense of dread and awe. A phenomenon that is widely held and believed as truth in many American families. A common myth that there is this ancient food relic that is handed down generation after generation to the eldest daughter, like a treasured "start" of *sourdough yeast. *Yes, those do in fact exist (
read it on wikipedia) and can be bought on the
internet and eBay.
Except... that there really ARE some families that have century old fruitcakes in their possession.
Ewwww.... yup. That picture (above) is of an almost 100 year old fruitcake. Supposedly made around the time of the Titanic. Read all about it
here.
Then... for a real good laugh.. click over to
Revenge Gifts for a tale of a 1,000 year old fruitcake! I couldn't get any of the links on this site to work.... and after a little research discover that it's a clever little marketing ploy!! You'll have to figure it out and come back and leave me a comment when you do!!
Please post fruitcake related jokes and images to the
"I Ate Fruitcake and Lived to Tell About It" Facebook Group!!
Now.. for the culture!
Sister, Nancy, informs me that today, December 16th, is the birthday of our favorite English author,
Jane Austen! She even had tea & cakes this morning while reading a chapter in honor of dear ole' Jane!! 'Er... Nan? Was that
fruitcake you had by the way, dearie?? You might should consider having an allergy shot or some penicillin around if you did!!
His depictions of Santa have endured and shaped the westernized and commercial view of Santa Claus since the second half of the 1800's. In 1890, he published Thomas Nast's Christmas Drawings for the Human Race.
