The second verse of the Christmas carol We Wish You a Merry Christmas demands some figgy pudding. The carollers threaten not to go away until they get some. What is figgy pudding? Does it actually contain Figs, Ficus carica?
Figgy without Figs?
Some seem to doubt that figgy pudding should actually contain Figs. It seems that the original figgy pudding may actually have been a Plum pudding. The word figgy was often used to denote Raisins in Cornwall.
Yorkshire Figgy Pudding
At the other end of the country, the recipe for a traditional Yorkshire figgy pudding does indeed contain Figs. It has the rough consistency of a traditional Christmas pudding, is similarly steamed and is also allowed to mature. Other ingredients with dried Figs include chopped apples, carrot, breadcrumbs, flour, butter, eggs, brown sugar, black treacle and lemon juice and rind.
Botany
Let’s proceed on the basis that the traditional figgy Pudding does indeed contain Figs. The Fig is an extraordinary fruit botanically. In the wild, its reproduction is closely tied in with the life cycle of the fig wasp, Blastophaga grossorum. The flowers appear inside the fruit so that they are never visible inside. The Fig’s unique structure is called a syconium. It has a small hole at the tip (known as the ostiole) through which the pollinating wasps can enter.
Ancient Crop
The cultivation of Figs goes back thousands of years. Archaeology has revealed that Figs were cultivated from 4000 BC in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. Wild Figs are dioecious, i.e. there have separate male and female trees. These wild Figs are called Caprifigs (meaning Goat Figs). Today’s modern cultivars are only female trees and do not require pollination.
Growing Figs in the UK
I increasingly see Fig trees growing in this country. The RHS recommends choosing a hardy cultivar and growing them in a fan-shape against a warm, sunny wall. Alternatively, you can grow a Fig tree in a container and move it indoors for the winter. Perhaps future Figgy puddings may contain home-grown Figs?
Time to sing:
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year Good tidings we bring to you and your kin We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year Oh, bring us some figgy pudding Oh, bring us some figgy pudding Oh, bring us some figgy pudding And bring it right here Good tidings we bring to you and your kin We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year We won't go until we get some We won't go until we get some We won't go until we get some So bring it right here Good tidings we bring to you and your kin We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year We all like our figgy pudding We all like our figgy pudding We all like our figgy pudding With all its good cheers Good tidings we bring to you and your kin We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
References and Further Reading
- Davidson, Alan (2006): The Oxford Companion to Food. Second Edition. Edited by Tom Jaine. Oxford.
- RHS (2021): Figs.
- van Wyk, Ben-Erik (2005): Food Plants of the World. An illustrated guide. Timber Press. p. 195
Note
Karen does not seek or receive any commercial interest or advantage from this blog. She is not promoting any business venture. She simply loves to share fascinating facts about plants. These pages illustrate her love of plants, botany, biodiversity, gardens and creative expression. There is always so much to learn about plant diversity. This blog is designed as a showcase for photography, commentary on plants and wildlife, gardens and other places visited, horticulture and related topics. Viewpoints are her own, not those of her employer.
All above photos © Karen Andrews. Other sources credited where used.