I FINALLY got on. Wait a bit, until I stop being stunned. Okay, here we go.
My mother was from England, so fruitcake was a total necessity (for her) each Christmas. She used only the most expensive ingredients, and though not a drinker, put in the best alcoholic beverage.
I tried, gently, to explain to her that none of my family liked fruitcake. To no avail. So each year the fruitcake was buried in the back of the refrigerator, then tossed out to make room the next Christmas for the next fruitcake.
Fruitcake Toss in Manitou Springs Colorado
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Yes, there is such a thing as a “fruitcake toss”. The small quirky town of Manitou Springs Colorado hosts this local event every year. It’s even been featured on the Travel Channel. This even features folks hurling fruitcakes through the air via brute force, trebuchets, gun, or canon. All ages from little tikes on up participate in different categories. Bring your own stale fruitcake, or you can rent one for $1.00.
2010 celebrates it’s 15th Annual Great Fruitcake Toss in Manitou Springs on January 9th, with festivities beginning at 10:00am. Click Here to visit their official website.
Need lodging in Manitou Springs for the event while you’re here either participating or enjoying watching them? Consider staying at the Rocky Mountain Lodge & Cabins, just 10 minutes from Manitou Springs, nestled in the mountains at Pikes Peak. Rent one of our Colorado Cabins or enjoy a little more pampering in our Colorado Bed and Breakfast Lodge, and feast on our signature 3-course breakfast before heading out to hurl that fruitcake.
http://blog.rockymountainlodge.com/2010/01/fruitcake-toss-in-manitou-springs.html
A must for weddings also. On the day Prince William's engagement was announced, the Royal Navy* would have started making the wedding cakes. Like your mum they will use only the best ingredients and regularly soak the cakes in brandy and/or rum.
I was very disappointed to discover at the first wedding I attend in the US that wedding cakes are just what we would call "sandwich cakes".
Long live the fruit cake!!
* A tradition for royal weddings.