Monday 23rd December - Christmas Pie

Morning chaps!  We're almost there and today I have the pleasure of going to the dentist (it's like Santa got my letter) before the mammoth quantity of cooking begins.  Now the worst of my cold is over, I am once more looking forward to Christmas dinner...

Christmas Pie William Henry Hunt

Look at the glee on this little chap's face!  He has pie for Christmas and who doesn't love that?  It is no doubt what our Lord Jesus had for Christmas dinner too.  Looking at the clothing and the furniture - we aren't in a poor person's house.  His clothes look neat and appropriately warm for this time of year, and both the chair and table look in good condition and of sturdy construction.  Mind you, in the same breath, he doesn't look like a rich boy either.  He has only got a pie, not the usual banquet that accompanies Jesus' birthday.

The Christmas Dinner: Bringing in the Peacock (1881) from 'The Graphic' Magazine

Images of Christmas dinner tend to be rather extravagant affairs, full of turkey, sweets, peacock, that sort of exciting thing.  Much like now, no matter what your economic state, you push the boat out and attempt to drive yourself into the poor house by purchasing more meat than is necessary to feed an army of carnivores. I'm not sure what it is that makes us want to serve and eat so very much, especially as the main theme of the Christmas story is that he had such a poor start in life, and as I remember it there weren't that many peacocks in the stable at Bethlehem.  We are quite stubbornly pagan in our delighted need to stuff ourselves sideways as if that alone will bring back the sunshine.  Isn't it meant to be true that the average Brit consumes 7000 calories on Christmas day?  Lawks, does the average Brit drop dead on Boxing Day?

The Poor Actress's Christmas Dinner (1860) Robert Braithwait Martineau

It's easy to forget sometimes that what we have is great riches and that we don't need to aspire to more, let alone far too much.  I love The Poor Actress's Christmas Dinner as it shows someone making do at Christmas.  She looks a bit hacked off, but she's got her pudding and therefore it's Christmas.  I love that the holly is as big as the pud, and I've always wondered if this is Ruth Herbert.  The pie is something special for the lad in today's image, possibly because he gets to have the whole thing to himself for once, or maybe because it contains something extra delicious.  Either way, he looks delighted.

I hope you get the pie to yourself on Christmas day, and I'll be back tomorrow with our last Blogvent picture for this year...