Karnataka - Mangalore   

Time to get together for fruit tossing

Special Correspondent

TOSSING TOGETHER: A group of revelers do `fruit tossing' in preparation for Christmas fruitcake.

MANGALORE: For the chefs and bakers at the Taj Manjarun in this port city, preparations for Christmas ball have begun. On Thursday, they revelled with the "fruit tossing" ceremony, which heralds the arrival of the season.

This short but pleasant and aromatic ceremony of "fruit tossing" is a mixture of fruits, which form the most important ingredient for the Christmas cake and puddings. The traditional Christmas fruitcake is a derivative of the Christmas pudding. It includes raisins, dates, nuts and candid fruit, which are marinated in either rum or brandy. Once, it is "well tossed", the mixture is packed in air tight containers and will be opened only when it is time to be mixed with the dough of the Christmas cake, which will be a good 45 days away.

According to Taj Manjarun Food and Beverages Manager Devraj Singh, in some countries, families prepare the Christmas fruitcake by joining together at the village corner and toss the fruit together and share them for the season. The practice was started in England 600 years ago when fruits were plucked and preserved in wine during spring so that they could be consumed in winter when no fruits were available. This tradition goes well with Mangaloreans, especially when there is a large community that believes in being cosmopolitan in outlook.

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