Happy National Fruitcake Day! A Slice of History (and Mystery) at the Haberdashery Cryptid Preserve

Here at the Haberdashery Cryptid Preserve, we love a good excuse for a celebration, and what better reason than National Fruitcake Day? This quirky holiday, falling on every fruitcake enthusiast's (or foe's) calendar on December 27th, begs the question: why the fruitcake, and why wait so long after the holidays to enjoy it?

Fruitcake, with its dense, boozy richness and array of candied fruits and nuts, is a cake that inspires strong opinions. Some adore its festive fruitiness, others find it a doorstop disguised as dessert. But love it or hate it, there's no denying its long history. Fruitcakes can be traced back to ancient Rome, where honey-glazed breads studded with nuts and dried fruits were offered during religious festivals. Over the centuries, the recipe evolved, incorporating spices brought back from trade routes and the boozy element that became a signature feature.

Here at the Haberdashery Cryptid Preserve, we're particularly interested in the folklore surrounding fruitcake. Its dense, fruit-packed nature and ability to seemingly last forever have given rise to legends and rumors. Sailors on long voyages would take fruitcake on their journeys, believing it would stay fresh for months (or even years) – a necessity when fresh provisions were scarce. This has led some to believe that fruitcakes might be possessed of an almost supernatural ability to resist spoilage. Perhaps there's a mischievous imp or a tiny brownie (not the delicious kind) trapped inside, perpetually reanimating the fruit and nuts?

While we at the Haberdashery Cryptid Preserve can't confirm any tiny bakers of the otherworldly variety, we can recommend enjoying a slice of fruitcake (or a whole one, we won't judge) this December 27th. National Fruitcake Day is the perfect opportunity to appreciate this curious concoction, and maybe even create some new traditions around it. Will you bake your own fruitcake and let it age for years to come? Will you challenge yourself to incorporate an unusual ingredient into the mix? The possibilities are endless, just like the potential for spooky stories surrounding this timeless treat.