10 Mince Pies Facts

The mince pie has a long history dating back to medieval times. Here are 10 pie facts to mull over whilst scoffing a freshly baked pie.

1. King Henry V was a great fan of them and was served a mincemeat pie at his coronation in 1413.

2. Originally the mince pie contain minced lamb, rabbit and game meat – mincing helped preserve the meat by mixing it with fruit, spices and alcohol.

3. The initial mince pies were large pies cooked in an oblong dish. The top often used to cave in and as a result the mince pie looked a little like a crib, in keeping with the Christian nativity story, and they were called ‘crib cakes’.

4. It was believed important to add three spices (cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg) as symbols of the three gifts given to the Christ child by the Magi.

5. Mince pies were once called ‘wayfarers’ pies’ because they were given to visitors over the Christmas period.

6. In 1644 the English Parliament outlawed the Christmas day holy day, making shops open that day, plum puddings and mince pies were condemned as heathen.

7. Pilgrims to America continued to believe the mince pie was heathen and Christmas was banned in Boston from 1659 – 1681.

8. The government of Pitt the Younger formed on 18 December 1783 was satirically dubbed the ‘mince-pie administration’ as it was widely believed that it would not last until Christmas.

9. On 29th November 2006 Britain’s first mince pie eating contest was held at Wookey Hole nr Wells, Somerset – the winner ate forty six mince pies!

10. A wish should be made whilst eating the first mince pie of the festive season.

Happy Christmas!