Christmas Tree Cake - Preppy Kitchen

itttda

You guys, I made my very first sheet cake for a work holiday party. Lots of mistakes, but I love it and am so proud of myself for trying something new. I bought a cake pan, doubled one of my cake recipes, made three batches of buttercream, and let H individually place each of the sprinkles. I was even able to cut it in half and fill it before icing. It was a hit at work! I’m glad I made the effort.

Christmas Wedding Cakes

6th January

Epiphany/Old Christmas Day

Source: The Book of Christmas, The Enchanted World, Time-Life Books

Today is the Epiphany, the commemoration of the arrival of the Three Magi in Bethlehem to acknowledge and worship the infant Jesus. It is also the Twelfth and final day of Christmas. These days, the day is marked by not much more than the taking down of festive decorations, if they haven’t been already. Up until about 150 years ago, however, the Epiphany and the end of Christmas was celebrated in earnest, particularly as it meant a return to work the following day and the beginning of the slow progress towards the austerities of Lent. Parties involving fancy dress - participants were known as “guisers” - were common and during the revels, masked men would visit apple trees in the orchards and sprinkle cider at the root to guarantee a fine harvest in the coming summer. Another pagan survival, which still takes place in Haxey, Humberside, is the Haxey Hood, a rumbustious football match involving thirteen red-clad Boggans, officiated over by a Lord and a Fool. The ball - known as the Sway Hood - is awarded to the pub team who can get the ball past the Boggans and, if they manage this, the pub will be blessed with good luck in the New Year. It is thought the game originated as a fertility ritual involving bull sacrifice, whose head comprised a “football” after the feast.

Twelfth Night Cakes were also popular today and were intended to last the whole of the winter season: they have been entirely superseded by Christmas Cakes. Today was also Christmas Day under the old calendar and on Shetland, it is still known as Yule.

let the holiday baking commence

Dear winter , I missed you.

I’m obsessed with this season🎁

My Christmas cakes:)

Christmas Tree Cake - Preppy Kitchen

__ogu.un

My first ever attempt at baking a Christmas cake and my first attempt at baking in years.

I hope it brings holiday cheer to everyone!