The results should not have been surprising, but I was disturbed to discover myself in the basement, in the rear end of public opinion about a serious matter at this time of year.
Questions in the survey asked about an unusual topic, that being fruit cake, or as we call it in this house: Christmas cake. It is never, ever referred to as “festive cake.” The cake is baked to enjoy at Christmas and therefore, it is called “Christmas cake.”
Back to the survey, undertaken by a marketing firm to determine for a client whether it should or should not bother putting Christmas cake products in a prominent place on retail shelves, and whether commercial Christmas cakes should be given shelf space a month or two before Christmas.
One thousand persons were interviewed, perhaps in person, perhaps by telephone (did I hang up before fully understanding this was not a scam topic?), perhaps by mail-in ballot.
By studying the results, the client would have been advised to save the precious shelf space for other products, maybe soap powder or an extra supply of bathroom tissue or even sanitizing supplies.
Broken down, the survey found only 18.79 per cent had a favourable opinion about fruit cake: 8.08 per cent liked it; 4.08 per cent considered it a favourite food at Christmas; 3.35 per cent had a family recipe that had been passed down; and 3.28 per cent admitted proudly they had made a fruit cake.
I am in this low percentage, agreeing 100 per cent with the comments offered in favour. Consider that a minority report on all matters relating to Christmas fruit cake.
The majority was decisive: 14.99 per cent flat out rebuked fruit cake, saying they don’t like it; 14.12 per cent had never tried fruit cake; 9.02 per cent would never buy it; 7.5 per cent were wasteful, saying they would throw away these cakes that are made with very expensive ingredients; 7.13 per cent said it is the worst Christmas food in existence; 5.2 per cent want to know the ingredients before taking a sample; 4.66 per cent only eat a slice to be polite; and 3.2 per cent said if they received a cake as a gift, they would save it and re-gift it to someone else.
Most distressingly is the comment from 4.8 per cent of the surveyed who said they have never tried fruit cake but still make fun of it. Shame on them for forming an opinion without considering both sides of the topic.
Anyone with mathematical skills will realize these figures don’t add up to 100 per cent, making it a less than scientific study. But those against fruit cake are clearly in the majority and we don’t have to wait for recounts to determine the outcome.
I will now concede to the majority opinion, but that hasn’t changed my own personal preferences regarding Christmas fruit cake.
I’ve been convinced of the value of Christmas cake since decades gone by when I helped my Mother mix her cakes then waited patiently to lick the spoons and then for the cakes to be baked. That first tiny slice was worth the wait — a month or so of more anticipation until the cakes were cut and shared with friends and family over the Christmas season.
If I could change anything about those cakes made by my Mother, it would have been to have thicker slices cut, and more of them retained for our household.
Joyce Walter can be reached at [email protected]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
