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Just Jakin I was once told there are only two types of people in the world… those who love fruitcake and those who hate it. Some of those who don’t love it have even gone as far as to make jokes about there is only one fruit cake that has been passed around from year to year. Have you ever wondered where in the world the origin of fruitcake came from? Or even what a fruitcake is? Fruitcake is a rich dark cake that has dried fruits and nuts in it. As to what type of fruit is used depends on the country or culture a person comes from. Fruitcake was very popular in England for centuries and was used at weddings (they were believed to be the first wedding cakes), celebrations, and holidays. But fruitcake goes back even farther than that. References have been found regarding a fruitcake dating all the way back to Roman times. The recipe included pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins that were mixed into barley mash. In the Middle Ages ingredients like honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added. Crusaders and hunters were reported to have carried this type of cake to sustain themselves over long periods of time away from home. It is believed that slices of fruitcake were given out to carolers at Christmas time in Victorian England. No one knows for sure how fruitcake came over to America but most likely recipes arrived with the immigrants. The inexpensive abundance of sugar allowed more candied fruit to be made and fruitcake was a good way to use this fruit. Another good point for fruitcake was that it could be kept for long periods of time, sometimes up to six months. Funny facts: In 18th century England fruitcakes were banned except at weddings, funerals, Christmas, and other certain holidays. The first mail order fruitcake came in 1913 when the management of Ringling Brothers Circus (who liked fruitcakes made by the Collin Street Bakery) ordered them as gifts to be mailed around the country. In 2003 fruitcakes were banned from carry-on luggage because when scanning people luggage the airport security had trouble identifying fruitcakes. This in turn caused delays in already long lines.
If you would like to learn more about fruitcake, need a great holiday recipe, or just a good read come and see what the Jakin Community Library & Museum has to offer you.
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