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The origins of the Christmas pudding can be traced as far back as pre-christian past. Due to the cold of the northern hemisphere people would worry about the land and how it would provide them with the grain they needed to keep alive in the year to come. They therefore tried to ensure the land's fertility by preparing a magical 'pudding'.
This simple pudding was boiled wheat in milk. The Christians adopted this cereal dish but suppressed or forgot about its origins as a 'magical' dish of significance, using the dish as a breakfast meal on Christmas Eve. Though this was slowly fazed out and it became a side dish to the meat course at the Christmas dinner. Gradually it was added to with other ingredients such as eggs, prunes, and even meat. But eventually the meat was left out and plums added to make the delicious pudding of today.
The Coin in The Pudding
The most exciting moment at the Christmas dinner is finding out who the lucky person is whose portion of the pudding contains the coin. Children treasure this custom even if the coin is of no value.
The coin in the pudding is attributed to the festivities held in the last days of the Christmas period, Twelfth Night. This is done in memory of the three kings who are said to have arrived in Bethlehem, a mock 'king' would be chosen for the day only.
There were several names given for this day also such as the 'King of Misrule' where everyhting was reversed made topsy turvy, another name for this "king for a day" was "King of the Bean", which was based on the method by which he or she is chosen.
A bean was mixed into the cake and baked for the occasion. When the cake was broken up and its pieces distributed among the company, whoever found the hidden bean was supposed to be crowned the 'King of the Bean'. This ancient ritual may be the origin of the modern coin in the pudding.
Another ritual was that belonging to the pagan celebration of Saturnalia where the person who found the coin was killed.
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