370 Million Pies: The Surprising, Meatless Story of Britain's Mince Pie

Why is a Christmas pie called 'mincemeat' when it rarely contains any meat? Every December, Brits consume a staggering 370 million of these festive pastries, a tradition with a story that stretches back centuries and is far stranger than its simple appearance suggests.

Origins in the Crusades

The mince pie's journey began in the 11th century. Crusaders returning from the Holy Land introduced new spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg to Europe. These were mixed with dried fruit and suet (a hard animal fat) to create a filling. The spices served a practical purpose: helping to preserve the meat that was originally a key ingredient.

From Religious Symbol to Banned Treat

During the Tudor period, the pie took on rich holiday symbolism. It was shaped like a rectangle to represent Jesus's manger, and its 13 ingredients were said to represent Christ and the 12 apostles. However, not everyone was a fan. In the 1650s, Oliver Cromwell's Puritan government banned Christmas celebrations, viewing them as pagan. Making mince pies and other festive foods was outlawed, a rule that also extended to the American British Colonies.

The Modern, Meat-Free Evolution

The mince pie made its comeback in the 1840s, thanks to a recipe by cookery writer Eliza Acton. She offered two versions: one with meat and one without. The latter is the one most Brits are familiar with today. Modern mincemeat is a sweet and spicy mixture of dried fruits like apples, spices, and a splash of brandy, rum, or whiskey. In the last decade, even the animal-based suet has largely been replaced with vegetarian alternatives, making the pie a modern holiday staple.