How many times have we sung the lyrics to this verse of classic Christmas carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and thought, “Wait...what the heck is figgy pudding?”
You are not alone. And for all our readers out there who have no idea what figgy pudding is, we’re here to help!
What is figgy pudding?
Figgy pudding — also known as plum pudding or Christmas pudding — may be a staple on the British Christmas table, but if you are not from Great Britain, it makes sense that you might not know what it is. Your powers of deduction won’t likely give you any hints as to what it is either, as traditional figgy pudding contains neither figs nor the creamy custardy dessert that we Americans typically refer to as “pudding”. It doesn’t contain any plums either, in case that’s where your head was going next.
Figgy pudding is a pudding in the British sense of the word, which means it is a steamed cakelike dessert. This particular Christmas version is traditionally made with suet (which is raw beef or mutton fat), eggs, brown sugar, breadcrumbs, spices, dried fruits and, last --but certainly not least ---brandy. We would venture to say that this British version of pudding taste something like an incredibly dense, and intensely fatty cross between a fruit cake and a loaf of gingerbread, completely soaked in brandy. Sounds like a party, right?
Why is it called figgy pudding?
So why on earth is it called figgy pudding? Well, that answer dates back a few centuries. The first records of plum puddings date to the early 15th century when the word “plum” was actually just a generic term for any dried fruit, most commonly raisins and currants, but also prunes and other dried fruits when available. According to history.com, “Christmas pudding has its roots in medieval English sausages, when fat, spices and fruits (the best preservatives of their day) were mixed with meats, grains and vegetables and packed into animal stomachs and intestines so they would keep as long as possible.” Rather anticlimactically, figs have actually never been an official ingredient, but they are included from time to time, inspiring the well-known name along the way.
As for the figgy pudding song, near the end of the 16th century, carolers began to sing the English folk song, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” When poor folks stood on the doorsteps of the wealthy and sang, “Oh bring us some figgy pudding,” and “we won't go until we get some,” they probably were having a bit of fun, ...
Often associated with the original traditions of Christmas, it is most notably referred to in the Christmas carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" in the lines "Now bring us some figgy pudding," "We all love our figgy pudding," and "We won't go until we get some!" Figgy pudding is not plum pudding, although it can be ...
It has its origins in medieval England, with early recipes making use of dried fruit, suet, breadcrumbs, flour, eggs and spice, along with liquid such as milk or fortified wine. Later, recipes became more elaborate. In 1845, cookery writer Eliza Acton wrote the first recipe for a dish called "Christmas pudding".
Rather than creamy puddings and custards, which Southern cooks are familiar with, this Christmas pudding dates back to medieval England and is a steamed cake full of spices, raisins, and currants soaked in brandy. If it contains figs, it is called a figgy pudding.
Figgy pudding is fruity and very dense, and typically strongly flavored with brandy or rum. Its closest relative would probably be fruitcake, although figgy pudding is typically spicier and crumblier.
In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens wrote: “In half a minute Mrs Cratchit entered – flushed, but smiling proudly – with the pudding, like a speckled cannon ball, so hard and firm, blazing in half a half a quartern of ignited brandy, and bedight with Christmas Holly stuck into the top.
It's a steamed cake full of raisins, currants and brandy. The traditions around the figgy pudding carry a lot of Christian symbolism, Waugh says. The classic dish had 13 ingredients — "representing Christ and the 12 apostles," she says — and was served with a sprig of holly on top, standing in for the crown of thorns.
It's not entirely certain where the carol that contains the famous reference to a figgy pudding comes from. In 1939, a composer named Arthur Warrell received a copyright for the carol “A Merry Christmas,” but acknowledged that it was an arrangement of a traditional English song.
“Now bring us some figgy pudding” is the well-known refrain of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas." So, here it is. This seasonal favorite is essentially the same as a Christmas pudding but with the sweet addition of – wait for it – figs.
In half a minute Mrs. Cratchit entered: flushed, but smiling proudly: with the pudding, like a speckled cannon-ball, so hard and firm, blazing in half of half-a-quartern of ignited brandy, and bedight with Christmas holly stuck into the top.
The pudding was meant to have 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples. Often small trinkets were hidden in the mixture (a silver coin for wealth, a ring for future marriage and a thimble for spinsterhood!). The brandy poured over it and set alight represented the passion of Christ.
The idea of plum pudding as a Christmas dish rose to prominence during the Victorian period, as seen in A Christmas Carol (published in 1843) shown in this illustration of the Ghost of Christmas Present from the first edition.
A growing-up story with humor and tragedy told by the eldest child of a large family. This book is good for visualizing. Similar to the thought of the books/movie cheaper by the dozen, this story shows the aspects of coping with being in a large family dynamic.
" 'Figgy' — certainly at some time figs would have been incorporated into Christmas pudding recipes, but today, not traditionally." It's also a pudding in the British sense, meaning dessert — not the creamy, custardy dish most Americans associate with the word. It's a steamed cake full of raisins, currants and brandy.
Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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