History of Fruitcake Toss Day
The earliest known fruitcake recipe from ancient Rome lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins that were then mixed with barley. In the Middle Ages, honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added. Fruit cakes soon became popular all over Europe. Recipes varied greatly from country to country, depending on what ingredients were available as well as church regulations.In the 16th century, sugar from the American Colonies, paired with the discovery that it could help preserve fruits, created an excess of candied fruit, which further contributed to fruitcakes' affordability and popularity. However, fruitcakes later became a bit of a joke due to their excessive sweetness and heaviness, as well as their lack of any real flavor. Nevertheless, giving fruitcakes during the holiday season has remained a tradition in many parts of the world.
Manitou Springs has hosted the Fruitcake Toss tournament every year since 1995. During the competition, fruitcakes are thrown, hurled, catapulted and cannoned into the air using a range of inventive devices. Those braving this event would be wise to remember to look up occasionally a frozen fruitcake in the face is a formidable force when fired from an exercise-bike-powered cannon.
