What is a mince pie?
A mince pie is a small, sweet pastry filled with mincemeat, a mixture of dried fruit, spices, sugar and suet. It is a traditional English Christmas treat, often served warm with cream or brandy butter.
Despite the name, modern mincemeat usually contains no meat. Medieval mince pies, however, contained minced meat mixed with fruit and spices, brought back to England by Crusaders.
Over time, the amount of meat decreased, and by the Victorian era, sweet versions were common.
Christmas traditions
Mince pies are eaten from early December until Christmas. Some people leave a mince pie and a glass of sherry or milk for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve.
A popular story claims that eating mince pies on Christmas Day was banned by Oliver Cromwell, though historians say there was no specific law against mince pies.
Another tradition says you should eat a mince pie on each of the 12 days of Christmas for good luck.
Mince pies are sold in supermarkets and bakeries across England, and many families make their own. They are often topped with a pastry star or lid.