mince pies?

Question

how did the mincemeat in mince pies get its name?

Answer 1

Early mince pies did actually contain meat and were made in an oblong shape to represent the manger that Christ was born in, often with a pastry representation of the Holy child. As spices became more popular they were introduced to the pie and gradually the meat was left out (apart from the suet in the mincemeat) leaving just the name. Each mince pie eaten over the festive period means a happy month the following year.

Answer 2

Because mincemeat was originally pieces of meat, mixed with dried fruit and spices, and used as a way of preserving the meat. It's just over the years it has become less and less common for meat to be added.

Answer 3

Well, originally they contained meat in mediaeval times, but were padded out with fruit and spices as meat was so expensive. Gradually the meat got less and less and the fruit more and more until you have the meat-free mince pie we have now.

Answer 4

Because they contained meat, and specifially, across the pond (in Europe, etc), ground meat is referred to as mince.

Answer 5

because years ago they actually did use meat in them all the left overs fro xmas dinner and shoved it in a pie yuk!