Apart from a bit of suet, there is about as much meat in mincemeat as there is in sweetmeat: none. Mincemeat (a mixture of fruits steeped in rum) and sweetmeats (sugared cakes and candies) acquired their apparently incongruous names in different ways. The word mincemeat, first used in English in the middle of the nineteenth century, developed from the earlier minced meat, first recorded in the last quarter of the sixteenth century. These original minced meats were actually made of meat, and lots of it: one early recipe called for a hare, a pheasant, two partridges, two pigeons, and two rabbits. The meat from these various species had to be chopped into small pieces—minced, in other words—before being mixed, spiced, and baked in a pastry shell. Over the next hundred years, however, what went into mincemeat changed dramatically: fruits and liquor replaced the mammals and fowl until finally, by the middle of the seventeenth century, the dish known as mincemeat had nothing in common with its progenitor except for the mincing of its ingredients. The word mince, incidentally, derives from the Latin word minutus, meaning made small, as does the word menu. Sweetmeats, on the other hand, never contained any meat in the first place. They acquired their name at the end of the fifteenth century when the word meat could mean not only flesh but also food in general. It is this now defunct sense of meat that is represented in the obsolete word hardmeat (animal fodder that is hard, like corn, instead of soft like grass) and in the obsolete word spoon-meat (liquefied food given to infants or invalids).
Prepare to delve into the realm of festive British Christmas traditions with a delightful creation known as mincemeat. This minced fruit mixture serves as the delectable filling for mince pies, which hold a special place in the hearts of Britons during the holiday season. While mincemeat originally encompassed cooked lean beef, it is worth noting that modern iterations have omitted this ingredient. Instead, the focus now lies on the harmonious blend of fruits and spices that create a tantalizing medley of flavors. Embrace the enchanting allure of mincemeat as it nestles within the buttery embrace of a mince pie, inviting you to savor the festive spirit and indulge in a cherished British Christmas tradition.