Mince Pies, like Christmas Puddings, were basically prepared with meat, such as lamb, rather than a dried fruit. They were also first presented in an oval shape to express the manger that Jesus slept in as a baby, with the top representing his swaddling clothes. Sometimes they even had a 'pastry baby Jesus' on the top!

During the Stuart and Georgian times, in the UK, mince pies were a status figure at Christmas!  Very rich people liked to show off at their Christmas parties by having pies made is different shapes (like stars, crescents, hearts, tears, & flowers); they fancily shaped pies could often fit together a bit like a jigsaw! They also looked like the 'knot gardens' that were famous during those periods. Having pies like this meant you were rich and could afford to employ the best, and most expensive, pastry cooks!

But now they are usually made in a round shape and are eaten hot or cold. I like mine hot with some ice cream! A custom from the middle ages states that if you eat a mince pie on every day from "Christmas to Twelfth Night (evening of the 5th January) you will have happiness for the next 12 months"

On Christmas Eve, children in the UK often leave out mince pies with brandy or some similar drink for Father Christmas, and a carrot for the reindeer. If you'd like to know more about Mince Pies and where to get the best ones, please visit the UK based Mince Pie Club (goes to another site).