Know what’s on the top of my grocery list right now? Eggnog. Because we’re out, and this won’t do. As soon as the first cartons appear in the supermarket, my daughter is clamoring for it…and I’m with her. Though it was an acquired taste for me, it’s one I now adore–both the store-bought version, and the homemade variety that I’ll splurge on making for Christmas morning.

But what’s the history of eggnog, and how did it get tied to Christmas?

The beverage itself dates back to the Middle Ages as “posset,” a drink that combined milk, eggs, alcohol, and spices. The egg part of its eventual name, then, is obvious–and it seems that nog was a strong, ale-like drink, though no one’s quite sure on the etymology of that part.  The ingredients, however, were expensive, which meant it was reserved for the wealthy or for times of celebration.

At least until the recipe came to America. Since so many people here had farms, and hence access to cream and eggs and cheap Caribbean rum, eggnog quickly became a favorite beverage for special occasions for everyone. George Washington even shared his favorite recipe (which was quite heavy on the liquor, LOL). The drink became known as eggnog first in America around 1775.

Are you an eggnog fan? Store bought? Homemade? With or without alcohol? (My daughter and I prefer it without, but my husband enjoys the flavors more with a dash of sherry or rum in there.)

Ever wonder how red and green became our Christmas colors? Well, back in the day when I was writing A Heart’s Revolution (which includes Christmas in 1780), I paused to look it up, just to make sure my characters would have been celebrating with familiar colors (they totally would have been!). So of course, I figure I’ll share with you too, as part of my Holiday History series. 😉

The green part of “red and green” I pretty much knew. Since evergreens are the only thing growing in the Western hemisphere this time of year, it was chosen as a decoration–one we could find much significance in, as it’s a symbol of eternal life and/or rebirth. There were, of course, traditions surrounding this before Christianity took root–traditions that were easily integrated into the new faith because of how well they represented our ideals.

But red–that’s the one I wasn’t sure about. And it’s been around long enough that historians aren’t entirely sure about it. But this is their best guess:

Traditionally, the feast day of Adam and Eve is on Christmas Day. As part of the celebration in the Middle Ages, they would put on a play to educate the illiterate masses about Adam and Eve’s story. When they got to the part about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil their options were limited–the only tree still green was the pine. And the only fruit they had stores was the apple. So they’d tie an apple onto a pine bough, and that would represent their Tree.

Over the years, the red apple snuck into Christmas traditions too, appearing on wreaths and garlands. Red and green soon took hold in its own right. Holly became a popular plant to decorate with solely because it combines those two colors (and is an evergreen so, you know, around in December).

And there we have it! A tradition that has been around for somewhere between 500 and 1000 years, and shows no signs of stopping. =)

Ever wonder why this cake has become a holiday staple, despite all the jokes about how much people hate it?

Well, let’s start by stripping off the layers of dislike. Up until they began to be mass-produced, fruitcake was a much-beloved special-occasion treat, made with care and considered a rare treat–and a long-lasting one.

The fruit in fruitcake is dried and candied (soaked in sugar), which means it’s well preserved. The cake itself is often made or stored with alcohol too, which in turn kills bacteria. The result? This cake can last. Up to 25 YEARS is the accepted limit (??) on its shelf-life, and apparently it was often traditional to make a cake one Christmas for eating the next. (Yeah. Sure. Why not.) Cultures around the world have their own varieties of fruitcake, with slight variations but equal presence.

So why did it get tied to Christmas? Well, it was reserved for special occasions for centuries, because the ingredients were costly. Fruit, historically, was not cheap, and neither were sugar and butter. It was a favorite cake for weddings, and of course, that most special day of the year–Christmas! So to give a gift of a fruitcake was thoughtful and would have been well received. People could treasure it, savor it, enjoy a bit here and then a bit there without fear of it spoiling.

Where do you come down on fruitcake? Special treat, or dreaded gift? Have you ever tried a homemade variety, or just the mass-produced kind? (I’d be interested in sampling a homemade one sometime! I’ll have to add it to my eventual-holiday-baking list.)