Christmas [antikvár]

Q^troduction'^hristmas is a rich, warm, Niiiagical time of year, when friends and family come together and exchange what the Victorians called "tokens of affection". Many of the customs we observe today date back thousands of years, while others, such as the Christmas tree, were only introduced in the nineteenth century.One of the main features of our celebrations is a lavish Christmas dinner, to which we may invite the extended family, friends and neighbours. This tradition of hospitality, in the form of a large feast, was, in the past, a Christmas responsibility for those with extensive lands or large households.The feast was held in the main hall and consisted of two courses, each comprising many dishes. A ceremonial boar's head was usually the most important dish, carried in by the master of the household on a large platter -turkey didn't replace boar and beef as the main Christmas dish in England until late in the nineteenth century.At the end of the meal, a small group of honoured guests would be invited into a separate room to share exquisite sweetmeats, made of expensive imported sugar and spices. The centrepiece was often a "marchpane", a large disc of iced almond paste, which is the origin of our modern marzipan. This wasAbove: These eye-catching and realistic fniits make perfect gifts for lovers of mai-zipan.Right: It's great fun watching friends and family discover treats inside their Christmas cracken.Opposite: Who could resist a traditional Chnstmas diijner with all the trimmings?