The old meaning of meat was any solid food (as opposed to liquid food, which was drink). The 'meat' that is now bought from a butcher used to be known as flesh. Regards, Chris Westmoreland > -----Original Message----- > From: Carole No Name [mailto:caz@clear.net.nz] > Sent: 09 December 2004 20:09 > To: ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: RE: [BAN] Christmas Customs > > I thought mince meat in this case was all fruit and spices, maybe with > suet > (which I think has meat origins).... > > Loved to eat it on the spoon straight from the jar (yes, we cheated and > had > bought stuff....but I think Nan used to make it)...actually given half the > chance - I STILL love to eat it off the spoon!!!! > > Carole > > > -----Original Message----- > From: PKentCALD@aol.com [mailto:PKentCALD@aol.com] > Sent: Thursday, 9 December 2004 6:42 p.m. > To: ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [BAN] Christmas Customs > > Were mince pies fruit or meat? I've always been curious about "mincemeat" > as > > ours were always minced fruit! > > We had many similar customs here in New Jersey - apple and orange in the > stocking and mince pies and turkey on Christmas. We decorated our tree > Christmas > eve before heading off to midnight mass where we kids tried to "look fat" > so > > they wouldn't sqeeze another person in the pew. When we got home, we would > wake > up Grandma and then open our presents BEFORE going to bed. Of course, we > were > old enough not to have to wait for St. Nicholas! > Phyllis Kent > > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx