The Secret Life Of: Christmas
This is one of my favorite Secret Life Of’s. Being a pagan, people often wonder why I celebrate Christmas, and not Yule. The fact is, to me they are one and the same. Many of the food and the traditions come from the celebration, known by the Scandanavians as Yule. And this show starts of right away by talking about that. The Yule log, specifically, is something that I make every year. A small one, of course, that I may spend hours decorating, just to burn it. But these days, I would much rather make a Buche De Noel.
One of my favorite parts of this show is seeing host Jim O’Connor deal with “Jean the French Chef”. Heehee, he hasn’t had much experience in a real kitchen it seems. The Chef says, “You are lucky you don’t work with me!” And “What part of boiling don’t you understand?” I am therefore surprised to see such a high maintenance chef making the log in such an amateur way. making a sort of half-log in a weird lasagna style with a PVC pipe. Between this and Iron Chef America’s sad square Buche, I am wondering what ever happened to the art of rolling a cake. If I can do it, any of these guys can. Geez.
Next he goes to an authentic Medieval Christmas Feast. Where they serve Roast Pig and Beef Stew, and monay other things that look yummy, if all about the same shades of brown. He looked more than shocked when presented with the Boar’s Head at the end of the meal. After that it’s off to save the reputation of the dread fruitcake. Now I am one of the few people in the world that is a fan of fruitcake. That is, well made fruitcake. There is nothing better to me than a spice cake basis with nuts and dried fruit. mmmm…. And he was able to find someone to help him make just that.
This show is wonderful teaching not only the ancient pre-Christian holiday foods, but the Christian ones as well. The again who didn’t know that Candy Canes were created by a monk the keep the kids in the choir appeased? What’s that? You didn’t… oops… The secret life of Christmas covers way too much for me to go over here, so I suggest that you watch it yourself! It is a wonderful way of learning the history of one of the most celebrated holidays in the world. Education and food, in the same show! Who can ask for more?
December 23rd, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Why did I not know you were Pagan? huh. I totally love Jim O’Connor in those shows, he so cracks me up with the French chef. This is a fave episode, as are the Halloween (Samhain) ones! (well not necessarily the ones on FoodNetwork, I was thinking more the History Channel) I haven’t seen any of the Secret Life of shows with the new guy… can’t think of his name but I did like his Hamm on the Street shows… anyways, hope you had a merry Solstice, and did you catch the glorious moonrise tonight?
December 23rd, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I hadn’t posted before on here that I was pagan, so that’s probably why you didn’t know. Happy Solstice to you as well, and a prosperous new year.
I am a huge fan of the Easter, Halloween & Christmas specials on both the Food Network AND the history channel. As a matter of fact, it is my wish that they were all required viewing in schools.
Perhaps then, people would realize that the traditions that they celebrate today are the exact same ones their anscestors celebrated hundreds of years ago, just with a different name.
The other host you are thinking of is George Duran. I have not seen any of his Secret Life Of shows either, but I am looking forward to them. I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job than Jim O’Connor, but if he can… that will be one AWESOME show!!!