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Holiday Trivia! 5 Favorites and Their Origins
- Fruitcake: During the 1700s, fruitcake was forbidden in Europe. Surprisingly, it wasn’t due to the overwhelming indigestion that the brick-heavy, fruit and nut-laden confection can induce. Instead, it was thought that fruitcake was entirely too sinful and rich. Later on, Europeans were able to have their cake and eat it, too, but only if they indulged in the rich dessert on special occasions like weddings and Christmas.
- Christmas Wreaths: Could Christmas and the Olympics have something in common? The ancient Greeks adorned the heads of victorious athletes with garlands of laurel, which eventually they hung in their homes. This tradition blended into Christmas since Christians believe the round shape of the wreath is the symbol of immortality. The evergreens used in wreaths signify life in the cold wintry season.
- Dreidel: A simple child’s game of spinning a top began as a disguise for studying religion. The ancient Jews were banned from learning the Torah so they devised games like the spinning of the dreidel to conceal their studies. Today, the dreidel is more about fun and less about sneaky learning.
- Eggnog: Eggnog can invoke memories of good friends and family members gathered around a warm fireplace. But did you know that eggnog was also a well-loved favorite of our first president? When not busy commanding the troops at Valley Forge or overseeing his estate at Mount Vernon, George Washington was whipping up his own fragrant batch of eggnog. It seems that good old George enjoyed a lot of liquor in his eggnog – mainly rye whiskey, brandy, sherry, and plenty of Jamaican rum. (Imagine the parties he must have thrown!)
- Poinsettias: In the old days, the pretty red, white, and pink star-shaped flowers associated with Christmas were not just placed around the house as a sort of living decoration. The Aztecs used the poinsettia’s milk-like liquid to nurse away fevers.
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