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