2006-12-14 19:01:59 · 4 answers · asked by sistablu...Maat 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
oops I spelt Christmas incorrectly
2006-12-14 19:03:56 · update #1
You are all thinking along the same line as me!There is one other therory aleast, that I know of.
It goes back to English history,shall leave it another day to see if anyone clicks it.
2006-12-15 03:43:45 · update #2
It's an old tradition very prevalent in the Eastern Mediterranean. We find it in the pre Christian Hellenistic. Bestows the lucky one with good fortune and health for the coming year. The eastern branch of Christianity puts a gold coin (if it can be afforded) in a cake called vasilopita (the kings cake). Before the cake is cut the pieces are named an ten distributed. The only difference is the East does it on New Year's day while the west on the 25th of December
2006-12-14 19:34:37 · answer #1 · answered by The Stainless Steel Rat 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It was common practice to include small silver coins in the pudding mixture, which could be kept by the person whose serving included them. The usual choice was a silver 3d piece, or a sixpence. The coin was believed to bring wealth in the coming year. However this practice fell away once real silver coins were not available, as it was believed that alloy coins would taint the pudding. The practice has largely stopped for reasons of safety and liability.
2006-12-15 03:03:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are many historical instances of putting silver coins in food. Many times people claim that it is to bring fortune. There are very few instances, though, of gold in food for the same reason, and no instances of putting copper coins in food.
While people may assume that it is to bring fortune, I would also suggest that it may go back to when silver, (from ancient times), was used to ward off disease. Silver is a natural antibiotic, and has been used to purify food and water for thousands of years. It is making a comeback currently as well as a natural way to kill germs. In ancient times, since silver kept you from getting sick, it was supposed that ingesting silver was beneficial to your health. So, putting a silver coin may sound sensible to wish you wealth, it may have been put there to ensure your health instead, or maybe both!
2006-12-15 14:43:29 · answer #3 · answered by medoraman 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its an old tradition. Who ever gets the coin will have the richies of a king or queen. C'est le gateau de roi
2006-12-15 03:05:12 · answer #4 · answered by lolavonb 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋