Christmas in the WWI Trenches - Xmas Rations
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- Опубликовано: 12 дек 2022
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INGREDIENTAS
Pudding Basin: amzn.to/3UNLSJr
1 cup (120g) suet
1 ⅓ cup (170g) raisins and currants
1 cup (120g) flour
1 cup (120g) breadcrumbs
1 cup (120g) brown sugar
1 heaping cup (120g) grated potatoes
1 heaping cup (120g) grated carrots
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoon (28g) candied peel
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Brandy Sauce
¼ pound (113g) butter
⅓ cup (70g) sugar
2oz (60ml) sherry and/or brandy
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Subtitles: Jose Mendoza | IG @worldagainstjose
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#tastinghistory # #wwi #christmas @Cometeer
Making this episode warmed my heart like few have. I hope everyone enjoys watching it as much I enjoyed making it.
Woah.. I'm so early your pinned comment doesn't even have replies yet!
@@ironwolf7029 early gang
I heard some where that some people stole food parcels that where meant to go to the Trenches?
Don’t change your format because of the fools who don’t get what you do. I enjoy your show but you should have a lost in time episode with the townsends on April fools.
I'm a little late 👀
One thing to also keep in mind, is that those who participated in the Christmas Truce, were reprimanded and rotated off of the line for fraternizing with the enemy.
The same thing happened a week later on the Eastern Front for Orthodox Christmas.
Wouldn't want the plebs to realize that they have more in common with the enemy soldiers than any of the sociopaths in command.
Getting rotated off the line was probably a godsend.
@@aristedes9449 Almost like they wanted people fighting a world war so they'd not be fighting a class war. Almost like the whole thing was the result of incompetence, brinksmanship and a bunch of kings and emperors not willing to back down from tests to their power or masculinity.
@@ariandynas just like how they drew out armistice day to be on the 11th hour.
This is why I love Tasting History. Food and information with a charming host. I wish Max would've taught some of my college courses. Of course he would've been a child then.
Thank you, other Max 😁
Yeah, Max is not only super handsome, but incredibly charming, isn't he? And that's comming from a married totally straight guy.
@@alexandresobreiramartins9461 straight men can still admit when a man is handsome and charming. I think it's a lost nicity to compliment someone (man or woman) without people assuming you are flirting or sexually interested.
I'm a straight man and I also think Max is a very handsome man.
@@OpalBLeigh it is good to let people know nice thoughts you have for them. It doesn't mean you want them. I can tell a woman she has very nice hair or a cute smile without wanting to sleep with them. I think that's what our culture thinks...if you compliment someone it means you want something from them. It's sad.
@@TastingHistory Read the line of comments below (or is it above?) and tell me your fanbase isn't composed entirely of aliens trying to learn how to sound human! 😂🤣😂Anyway, great video, brother. Good history info here. 👍👍👍
Thank you for this.
My Grandfather was a young man (...not yet 19...) in 1917, but even at that young age had still gone through the Somme offensive, been wounded (...as part of 3rd bt KOSB, at Delville wood...) and sent to heal and recuperate in Liverpool .
You Never, NEVER wanted to be sent back to your home town. He was glad he wasn't sent back to Glasgow. To be sent "home" meant the Doctors didn't expect you to live long. You only got "home", if your mother was there, and so relatives could get the chance to visit you before you passed, (even if they could only talk to you from behind a curtain and Never actually See you.
The horrors of war were hidden as well as they Could be from civilians, and the utter ruination of many of these poor soldiers that returned was viewed as "too much" for civilians to Ever see. It'd be catastrophic for morale).
It also meant the War Department got a Hell of a Lot of "free" labour in the form of the "walking wounded" to help at the docks unloading ships laden with supplies 😔.
Plenty of Geordies and Liverpudlians, and even Londoners ended up in Glasgow in exactly the same way... but he was returned to active service soon after.
By Christmas 1917 he was back on the front lines.
His diary said his unit. "A sheep was brought. Either stolen or bought from the Belgians. It may have been Found as so many farms were empty, but we thought it not likely.
Enoch butchered it and send joints to the officers.
We made breadcrumbs and in place of oats they were used.
It was a poor haggis we had from it, but better than we'd eaten in days, and even Jimmy Turnbull didn't turn his nose up at it.
The blood went to make a decent black pudding".
I've No idea who this J Turnbull may have been, or Why the grandfaither would cite his epicurian tendancies so particularly... but I Imagine him to be a well bred man used to better fare.
Whereas, the majority of These lads in the 3rd KoSB were the children of Ulster Scots and Irish immigrants to Glasgow and Newcastle and everywhere in between, and pretty much dirt poor by today's standards.
Any meat with even a hint of "spices" may have been a rare treat.
Thanks you for sharing your grandfather's story have a great rest of your year friend
A sheep must have been seen as a Christmas miracle by a bunch of Scots far from home. By the sounds of it, they put the animal to good use. They probably ate well for days afterward!
He also recalled pulling water from a stream into his canteen and filling the water jacket on a machine gun from it. Later, following a German attack, the water in the jacket round the barrel was "howling" (it was well beyond boiling point) and after the attack was beaten off, they used the ferociously boiling water to brew a pot of tea.
(Honestly, whether from the Shetlands or Dorset, or Limavady or the Valleys, could you get any more stereotypically "British"? 😄)
Only a few days later did he pass the stream again and (for whatever reason) walk a little ways upstream. Laying there, with the water lapping Over it (clearly there for Weeks) was a dead and pretty well rotted horse.
To his dying day, he always boiled a kettle twice before making tea, and never failed to sniff the kettle between boils.
@@Levacque they also were all given a large tot of whisky from an officer who's father sent several bottles of whisky. After the hell of the last year, that day must have felt Very special indeed.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. My relatives at that time were immigrants from Germany, France & Norway. They were all ordered to stay on their farms to raise livestock & grow vegetables & grains. The government didn't want them moving freely incase they were spies. 👿 they all had farms in South Dakota, USA. (Except my Russian grandfather who never talked about anything.) Anyway I "inherite" many stories & pictures from my aunts and uncles about they service during WWll. But that's several lonnnggg stories for another time.
Just wanted to add: some of those needlepoint Christmas cards were likely made by the soldiers themselves. There was a lot of downtime during the war, lots of "hurry up and wait".
My grandfather did needlepoint during the war for my grandmother. Her brother served in France and was hit with mustard gas, and had a hard time getting his wind for the rest of his life.
My dad served in the Philippines during WW2, and spent a lot of his free time making shell necklaces for Mom and making sculptures out of spent artillery shells.
I've seen some of the artillery shell candlestick holders in a museum in York, truly beautiful craftsmanship, it definitely drives home the fact that they were people, not just squadrons
I was out of the service US Army just before Afghanistan war. But my friend Colenan was shipped over. During his hurry up and wait time would homemade jewelry made from scrap metal and old uniforms.
Nice to hear sweet stories of their chosen hobs from wartime. My old man was a Vietnam vet who left there loving weed and great music.
@@tt8807 Nothing wrong with that
God bless you and your family and thanks to them for their service
The last time I was this early Archduke Franz Ferdinand was still alive...
Ayo nahhhh
:o You just got Serbed!
😂😂😂
I LOL'd!
@@Roddy556 yucky
Part of the reason that the Christmas Truce was not repeated in subsequent years was due to suppression by the officers on both sides of the line. The brass were terrified at the prospect of the enlisted men turning their guns on their officers when they realized that they had more in common with the conscripts in the enemy trenches than the aristocrats sending them to die in the mud for an imperial war of attrition
Reference?
It was so sad. I had family on both sides and the British and Germans had so much in common,traditions, culture, religion etc. World war 1 was such a terrible war.
The Wobblies did not come right out and suggest it, but I read a story from an IWW paper all about a German soldier killing his officers when possible. Since that was the gist, and the story would never be read in a German paper, what they were really suggesting was clear...
To be fair... Germans celebrate Christmas on the 25th and 26th. Both are equally important. Had the British and French allowed it, I'm certain the truce could have lasted two days. Unfortunately, the 26th of 1914 was marked by British air raids on Germany.
I don't know how true it is, but I heard that the soldiers who didn't want to fight each other after becoming friends during the truce were marked as traitors and "mysteriously vanished".
If that indeed happened, it's makes the story even more heartbreaking 💔
Beautiful episode. I'm fortunate enough to own a letter first-hand recounting the Christmas Truce, written by my great-grandmother's brother. It always moves me to tears.
No. 8149, Private W. Brightwell, D. company, 1st Norfolk Regiment, 2nd Army Corps, British Expeditionary Force
My dear Ethel,
Just a few lines to you in answer to your most kind and welcome letter I received on 4th february. Hoping you are in best of health as it leaves me quite well at present. I have had a bad cold on my chest but I am glad to say I am getting rid of it now we are getting some better weather. You say you wondered how I spent my Xmas. Well I shall never forget that Xmas as long as I live. I spent it in the trenches. It was a sharp frosty night Xmas eve. When daylight came, I was all white with frost just like Father Christmas. The Germans were singing all night in their trenches, German carols, and parts of English songs (what they knew of them). We were only 200 yards from them. About 10 am they signalled to us that they wanted to talk to us. They sent one man towards and we sent and we sent one to meet him and they said they wanted a three day truce. He said if you don’t fire on us, we won’t fire on you. We agreed. The Germans started getting out of their trenches so we got out as well and shook hands with each other. The gave us cigars and cigarettes and we gave them some of ours. They were pleased; they would have given us anything. We exchanged pipes and knives and sang songs and played football with them. Some of them could speak english so we managed to understand each other-it looked alright, seeing Germans and English chasing a hare about with big sticks. We buried a poor French soldier who had been lying for weeks in front of our trench- the Germans helped dig the grave and one German and one English man lowered him down to rest. They were good chaps, they kept their word and were very little trouble to us after that. I reckon you will hardly credit this. I couldn’t myself. I had to pinch myself to see if I was awake. It was a treat to walk about and not be fired at.
Now my dear Ethel, I do not think there is anymore I can say at this time. Give my best respects to your husband- I wonder if we shall ever meet. Now I shall conclude with heaps of love from your affectionate
Brother Will.
XXXXXXXXXXXX”
I’d wondered about the burials, if both sides buried their dead together, and this confirms that at on one occasion they did.
Thankyou. Did he survive the war? I lost 2 gt uncles in the WW1 trenches, age 19 and 23.
@@rosiebottom3870 Yes, I'm very glad to report that he lived into his eighties.
@@oomflem that's wonderful, thanks for replying.
Thank you for sharing this.
Your 'cheap' pudding has been my mother's traditional 'carrot' pudding all my life and I am so glad you liked it 🥰 I had no idea is was WW1 rationing recipe.
thats very cool! i bet its an honor to learn that your family recipe was inspired by the meals that your ancestors had on the front lines. I hope you enjoy it even more after learning that mudotter.
That is so great!
The story of the Christmas truce of 1914 has always made me emotional. The idea of those men in the trenches on either side daring to risk their lives and get out of the trenches, and then have a bit of fun, even if it was with the enemy, all because Christmas was something both sides knew and held dear, being able to relate to each other because of it. And then fighting resuming the next day, those men who had played football together and traded food and tobacco, going back to killing each other, because now Christmas was over and they were back in reality.
Sadly it wasn't universal even between British and German troops. But I agree with the several historians who are of the opinion that it was a spontaneous outbreak of humanity among the inhumanity of war.
No. They were back in hell. Christmas was the reality they were fighting for.
Have you seen “Joyeux Noel”? Because sounds like you should.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" Luke 2:14 KJV
The heart-rending thing, is that Allied Command planned artillery barrages on Christmas the next year, in order to prevent another such spontaneous outbreaks of 'peace'.
When you tasted the Christmas pudding and said, ‘Hmm, that’s wonderful.’ It just touched my heart because I thought that must have been what it was really like for the men at the front. Thank you for tasting history for us. 💕
Definitely felt a bit emotional at that too
Exactly what I was thinking! I had hopes
That was the tear jerker for me I also felt that for the same reason
I LIVE for the fact that Max makes sure to get the hard tack joke in there whenever he possibly can
My nan who is 96 this year grew up in London and didn't evacuate in the blitz . My great grandad was homeguard but served in 263rd Royal field artillery in ww1 . He was also a field cook for his unit so had access to a small makeshift kitchen he took alot of recipes he used in the trenches and made them at home so he made Christmas pudding like this every year and once rationing started for ww2 he taught other families his little tricks to make a meal out of basically nothing. Well when I was born my nan had taken over as Christmas Dinner maker and she did the pudding every year just like this so for the first 12 years of my life I ate ww1 style Christmas pudding . When I finally had a normal one with brandy and all the rich ingredients I thought it was horrible . I'm 34 now and with my nans advanced age and my dad being useless waste of space iv taken over her care and thanks to your video I learnt how to make it the old family way and she loved it . She said it brought back memories of her childhood . So now I'm going to carry the torch for my great grandad and keep the tradition going of only having trench pudding on Christmas
The Hardtack gag clip never gets old. Great video as always!
Thank you ☺️
It makes me smile everytime. It’s like an inside joke almost and I hope he never stops!!
It's an inside joke in my house now. If I say "hard tack" or refer to animal crackers or something old and stale, I do the hard tack motion and click my tongue. 😛
Holds up as well as hard tack itself.
How hard it is?
The fact that we have letters form a Private Holly Christmas to his wife is just amazing. Chefs kiss!
Did Holly make it back?
@@gwes4492 Yes he did. He (1890 - 1964) lived until 1964 . You can find info about him, by searching for his name + world war 1.
Her name is Mary and don't tell me if it isn't.
@@Dussellus I asked this then was reading the comments to see if someone knew. Thank you for answering.
Isn't odd how a little bit of personalization makes you care about someone you never met.
A wonderful episode.
A career U.S. Soldier, I was overseas for quite a few Christmases, and away from my family. Attached as an advisor to the Egyptian Army during the build-up to the '91 Gulf War, we ate goat and rice. In fact, we ate goat and rice for lunch and dinner every day for several months. After the war, finally home, and visiting my mom and sister - mom prepared what had long been one of my favorite meals: roast leg of lamb. Apparently, I had a "look" on my face ... mom had to remind me that this was lamb and NOT goat.
Field rations in Somalia. However, for the two Christmases I was in Iraq we ate turkey (loaf), as well as other traditional holiday dishes. Though definitely not the quality I'd enjoy back home in the U.S., the meals overseas were special in that I shared them with the guys I served with. These Christmases I've never forgotten, and I'm forever grateful for the holidays I now get to share with my family.
Thank you for your service!
Thank you.
Your service is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
... But also, how does goat taste? Any good? I used to raise goats. Never ate them. Just sold them at shows for 1.5K - 2.5K a goat to people that wanted them as big grass clearing goats usually.
@@Khornecussion Greeting!
I found that the goats we ate (Africa and Middle East) tended to be tough and a bit stringy. I imagine goats in the West and North America are better fed and fatter, so perhaps more tender (just an assumption on my part).
The taste - to me - was 'gamey,' and a bit pungent, depending on how it was prepared. The majority of the time it was cooked over a fire - either roasted or in a large pot. We American troops generally made sure we had non-perishable sauces with us - usually Tabasco.
Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. My grandfather served in the Navy (42 years, retired as a master chief) and spoke very little about his service. The few stories that I do know have always moved me, and I'll forever be grateful to people like you and him who are willing to put it all on the line to protect people you'll never even know.
"A Christmas on the frontline
We walk among our friends
We don't think about tomorrow
The battle will commence
When we celebrated Christmas
We thought about our friends
Those who never made it home
When the battle had commenced" -Sabaton's "Christmas Truce"
Sabaton listen-chad
16:24 the way he looked up and said “that’s wonderful” … I felt that so poignantly, thinking about those men in the trenches
It really does make you remember them. Especially after 3 days of reading their stories.
That was the moment that got me too. I could see the emotion and hear it in his voice. Tasting a bit of the past and imagining what the people eating it must have felt. The warmth of home in a hell on earth. Sometimes small moments of joy are all you have to get you through. And it's incredible that we can revive those memories of the past and remember those that had them, with such a simple thing as pudding.
@@TastingHistory I listened to this in my home office with my collection of guns and WWI artifacts. I have a pickelhaube on my desk, and a number of other WWI guns and equipment. This episode was downright surreal at times, especially when you pronounced the wonderful nature of the pudding.
@@TastingHistory I had fully expected you to break down and cry a bit. I nearly did.
How ever good it might be, it will probably never be as good as it was for them. You're sitting in a wet and cold trench, under artillery fire, you have eaten poor military rations for the last months and you're hungry. Then you get this treat. That makes the food taste even better.
I'm a little older than most of you. My Dad was born in 1910. My mother in 1013. They saw most of the 20th century, dying both in the 1980s. My mother was born in Italy... she had stories of her life during World War I. Tears flowed as Max spoke of how hard life in the trenches were. I've read that the dead marshes of the Lord of the Rings was inspired by JRR Tolkien's memories of Trench life at the front. I've listened or read Barbara Tucuman's Historical accounts of the causes and beginning of World War I, many times... I still don't understand why Europe wanted to destroy itself in 1914, but it did. I've lived a long life but I still feel I don't understand my fellow human beings.
Wow, pretty wild that your mom lived to be over 1000 years old.
Jokes aside, thank you for sharing that. it's pretty cool that this channel can bring people together and give them a place to learn about ancient (and not so ancient) history, and also share their personal anecdotes. One of my top RUclips channels for sure.
"I still don't understand why Europe wanted to destroy itself in 1914"
It may not be exactly the same, but what Russia bring forth may be close to it.
Thank you for sharing your story. I agree that I don't totally understand my fellow man either.
"I still don't understand why Europe wanted to destroy itself in 1914" Mostly thanks to a war hungry Emperor; Wilhelm II. He was a useless ruler, power hungry, incompetent, and wanting glory, so made an alliance with Austria-Hungary to go to war with France and Serbia. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand allowed the two countries an excuse to go to war, and so they did.
Germany declared war on France and Russia, invaded France, through Belgium (which was neutral), which then forced Britain into the war because it had a treaty with Belgium to defend it during war time. Italy then joined to try and curry favour with Britain and France. Turkey joined because it wanted the Balkans back from Russia. Bulgaria joined because it wanted land from Serbia. Japan joined the war for spoils, but had no obligations even though it had a treaty with Britain. It was essentially one giant attempted land grab.
@@peachesandcream8753 Wow
Events like the "christmas truce" occured several more times during the entire war, even on normal days. The frontline soldiers kept it among them since franterization was forbidden and could result in severe punishments. But frontline soldiers would sometimes meet in no man's land, they would have conversations from trench to trench, and exchange food.
The hard tack "clink-clink" had me rolling with laughter, as always, and I love you for that, Max. Did anyone have some tears in their eyes after that first bite of pudding? A soldier getting this sweet delight from home surely would have their hearts lightened and their spirits renewed by that small, simple taste from home. Wonderful video, Max. Hugs
I had some mist at, "You no shoot, we no shoot." And in a few other spots. This was a good episode.
I was really surprised by the addition of the carrots and potatoes. Sounds like that pudding could serve as a full meal.
I used to make a diabetic Christmas pudding for my FIL and that had carrots in it. But the moisture came from orange juice. It was rather nice, but nothing at all like a trad Christmas pud! But he loved it, so that was all that mattered. At least he Said he did! I was never around to see him eat it! haha.
I've got a recipe similar to this -- it comes out like carrot cake (the potatoes disappear) and is excellent.
It kind of makes sense to include carrots, in my opinion. They are quite a sweet vegetable from the stored carbohydrates the roots which are broken down into simpler sugars during cooking; they also help to "bulk out" the pudding without using more valuable ingredients
Never heard about potatoes and carrots. but because I like puddings so much I will try it one of the next days.
What are carrots and potatoes but carbohydrates in another form?
Heartbreaking, Max. We so often forget that the soldiers are not the only ones who suffer in war. I can't shake the image of mothers & wives making up packages for their boys, and never knowing if they'll ever see them again. Thanks again for your comprehensive research and compassionate presentation. Happy Holidays to you & yours.... All Best, Cheryl
😥
Thank you Max. Had this video playing out loud at my parents' place (I'm home for Christmas) and my Dad overheard and loved it. Dad doesn't have a smartphone, Facebook, or any other social media but liked the video so much he wanted me to email him the link so he could share it with his friends over email. Merry Christmas!
Love to hear that! Thank your dad too
This was wonderful. When I saw the look on Max's face after that first bite, it was like reaching back to the past. These meager ingredients coming together somehow to give a taste of home and holiday spirit to the soldiers at war. True Christmas magic.
There are still herculean efforts to bring Christmas to the front lines. My dad told me stories of Iraq when he'd see big, battle-hardened soldiers turn into wide-eyed children at the sight of a fellow soldier wearing a Santa Claus costume.
On the Christmas I spent in Iraq, I took a squad with my commander out to various smaller bases where we had units stationed. I was a little irritated at this - the trip seemed to have no purpose, and it meant me and my guys were spending Christmas as a target driving around Baghdad for no reason. But then, at the second stop, I watched none other than Santa Claus himself get out of one of our vehicles. I was stunned speechless. I had a good idea of who was and wasn't in my squad, and Saint Nick wasn't on the roster!
Turns out, one of the Soldiers I brought along had the suit and changed in the car. My commander had us bringing him around to our subordinate units because ... well, because it was Christmas.
Probably the most important mission I've ever been on.
I still believe in Santa Claus. I love Christmas. I'm glad you got that assignment and that you told us. I'm glad you were able to spread the magic a little further that Christmas. Merry Merry Christmas. And thank you indeed for your service.
Thank you for your service!
I remember my cousin telling us about a Christmas she had in Baghdad. She waited to open the box from her mom and our grandma, because she just knew there’d be knitted and cross-stitched items. She and her whole group (I honestly don’t recall the correct term) were surprised to find that her mother’d knitting club back home had knitted everyone a hat and socks. And Grandma’s sewing group had made everyone their own ornament! My cousin said she outright cried, and several of her fellow soldiers were obviously trying not to cry! There’s just something amazing, about getting something so personal from someone you’ve never met…
God bless you and God bless that Santa. I can't imagine how much joy that would bring to me had I been out there.
Ahhh Christmas in Baghdad been there with you. Also spent a Christmas in Riyadh.
As a British person, I'd like to say that you got the pronunciations of Leicester and Leicestershire spot on.
It's a good job he didn't attempt Loughborough - or as Americans call it - Loga Boroga
As a Woolyback, born and bred, I’m impressed by Max’s perfect pronunciation, too… we tend to say: Lesta and Lestashir, me duck 😂
@@mgtproductions9524 Loog-barowgh! 😸
Or maybe Loo-burra.
@@mgtproductions9524 A lot of New Englanders can pronounce them fine, because most of the New England states just copied the names of towns in the UK!
I actually teared up when you took that bite. I could see you connect with history right at that moment and put yourself in that trench, feeling the meager joy that little slice could bring.
I got the same reaction when Max did that, it makes me think of the desperate times and endless love of the soldier's families
My mum's pudding recipe has a heap of grated carrot in it, it's one of those things I never really thought about until I was looking for recipes of my own. That extra moisture and body adds a lot with the dried fruits and spices. It's our family's favourite and christmas isn't complete without it.
My sister always makes a carrot pudding for the family.🎅🎄🙂❤️
Wow I cried while watching. I’m 70, my parents had me late in their lives. My dad was 13 and mom 3 in 1914. So they were very aware of that war and it’s affects. I do think we have generational memories. Thank you for this video. 💕
Wow you're profile pic, I genuinely thought you were 25 years younger than that, you're so gorgeous!
Once there was a charming young prince in the land of Disney, but all he yearned to be was a humble cook spending his days in the kitchen while learning the secrets of long lost chefs.
Hm I feel like I could make a netflix series out of this with some more time;)
Brilliant! I'd watch that. 😉
Me too!
I'd watch it.
Palpatine: "Do it."
Sort of "Ratatouille" without the tail.
I love the 1940s radio announcer voice Max does! It’s so fitting and funny.
I couldn’t hold my tears back for this one, and thank you Max for the more tone downed humour, you’re such a gentle and respectful soul. There is a Danish musician, Lars Lilholt, who wrote a song about the Christmas of 1914, it’s called “Ingenmandsland” (no man’s land), I know you wouldn’t be able to understand the lyrics without translation, but I grew up with this song and finds it special heart clutching 🌲
The decency and the respect Max puts in this narration are heart-warming. But then, we are used to appreciating the lovely, smart and wise human being he is. Bravo.
The "plum pudding" that my family has been making since the 1940s is the Cape Breton wartime recipe - starts with grating two cups of potatoes and two cups of carrots, and uses raisins rather than currants (as these were, and still are, harder to find in Canada). I still make it every year, and wouldn't have it any other way - "real" Christmas puddings just taste wrong.
Do you have your recipe to share?
I lost my Grandmothers recipe, yours sounds similar to hers. She always served hers with a hard sauce. Would you be willing to share your recipe? I miss her pudding and would love to make it again.
The hardtack clanking never fails to make me laugh, don't ever stop with that. Overall, this was a very touching episode and it warmed my heart how delighted Max was with this pudding - when he took the first bite I was dreading what he would say (even though he's always so polite when something is awful), I was fully expecting it to be wretched compared to the lavish Christmas pudding he made before. What a lovely surprise. Merry Christmas, Max and family!
I am a recently separated military veteran and I did spend Christmas deployed one year. There was a small Christmas Eve celebration I attended in the smoke pit of the MWR. The location and time of the event was shared only by word of mouth and there were guards posted just in case. A small choir of chapel troops sang a few songs, then Santa Claus arrived on a firetruck with a couple (people dressed up as) reindeer and they handed out homemade stockings filled with goodies to those who attended. I got candy, some toiletries, and a hand-crocheted brown beanie. Christmas day I worked my normal shift and we took turns going to the chowhall for Christmas lunch. They had prepared a feast and there were lots of desserts. The turkey was quite tough and dry (camel turkey as we called it) and I got a slice of chocolate cake that was very good, if a little frozen. So we loaded up our to-go boxes and returned to work. And at the end of the shift, we lit a bonfire in the smoke pit and burned broken up pieces of pallets and paper shreds. Overall it was quite nice Christmas considering the circumstances. I still have and use the stocking and the beanie to this day.
Thank you for giving military culinary history it's due focus. Every generation has their war and food is an extremely important part of that experience. For my war, Christmas consisted of summer sausage, easy cheese, spicy mustard and crackers while sitting on a bleak mountain top. While this may not sound like much to some, it was wonderful because of the people I was with and the fact that we all made it through. Merry Christmas Max.
Which war?
@@erzsebetkovacs2527 Afghanistan, shortly after September 11th.
Merry Christmas and grateful for all like you who endured
@@TR-Mead Thank you for your service. The early years were wild, as far as I've heard.
@@alarin612 they were absolutely that. Everything we had trained on was a conventional fight against the Soviets so this was figuring it out as we went. Granted, I didn't live in the Wild West, but now I have an idea of what it was like.
This is such a touching episode! I never fail to cry at the story of the 1914 Christmas truce. It always breaks my heart.
Same. The more you learn about WWI, the more you realize how special that moment was. Never forget.
If you ever get the opportunity to visit the Garda lake in the Italian Alps, the trenches on the mountains are still there. You climb up the mountain for two hours and they are right on top of the ridge, carved into the rock. To think of the work and effort to get all the soldiers, weapons, cannons and provisions up there boggles the mind. And all of that just to kill the guys on the next ridge, it‘s insane!
16:30 made me oddly emotional. My great-great grandfather missed WW1 due to losing an eye as a child and it's weird to think that if he had served i might not be here.
Great video max. Your videos get better and better.
Yeah, me too. Something about the soft christmas music coming in as he realizes he actually likes it. Makes me think about the wives who labored over it who must have had the same worries about its taste and texture, but knowing it’s all they had
I think about these things, too. My grandfather came of age right around the time that Canada would have been mass-recruiting for D-Day. Dunno for sure why he wasn't drafted. I'm convinced he wasn't picked because he lived in a strategically important area for iron extraction and they needed to maintain the mining workforce.
My Great Uncle served in the trenches from 1914 until his death in 1917. This episode made me cry thinking of the horrors that he must have endured.
He was a messenger in 1917, returning to headquarters from a quiet part of the front. A sniper shot him, and he died in hospital the next day. Another young man who sacrificed his life for our future.
Princess Mary was my great grandmother. I never met her, but I’m always quite proud whenever I hear about the care packages she sent to the troops.
So you must be somewhere in the large royal family tree then I assume? How interesting!
@@agentmueller It’s certainly quite possible, the royal trees are massive.
I'm sorry but of Princess Mary was your Great grandmother you would be living in England in a stately home.
Do you understand that it's not possible
@@sutty85 no, that’s not how it works pal. But actually my great uncle, the previous earl of harewood, lived in (funnily enough) Harewood house, a stately home still owned by my family, today it is owned by my godfather David Lascelles (the current earl of Harewood). Kindly do not lecture me on my own family tree. I can assure you I know it better than you.
My grandfather was a recipient of one of those care packages with the brass box included,still have it sitting on a bookshelf right now.Such a nice link to that time .
I really appreciate you really showing how tragic war can really be for the soldiers on the front line. I've heard so many times online of people glorifying the two World Wars and saying "Why can't Men today be like the boys on Normandy?". But there's is nothing glamourous about war, those soldiers are just like us today, they missed their families, they were saddened when their fellow soldiers died and they appreciated good meals and gifts. I'm glad at least a couple of soldiers got to experience that Christmas Truce.
I'd heard this sort of thing from Old Corps veterans during my time in the Marines.
"They used to take us out back and beat the shit out of us for stepping out of line!"
Yeah, because there was a notable number of anti-authority ex-cons and beligerant draftees in service back then - we're all-volunteer now, meaning we don't need such tactics to keep us in check.
I'm actually watching this while deployed in the desert of Kuwait. Another holiday away from home but I'll see my loved ones soon enough. This is my eighth or nineth deployment I think but for some reason your video struck a certain emotional tone while you were reading old letters sent home. Thank you for the content you make, it really is a joy to watch. Merry Christmas.
Thank you for your service!
Best wishes. 🎄
Wishing you a Merry Christmas away from home🎉
You still with us?
@@peggedyourdad9560 absolutely. I actually just got back from a deployment and have been spending my leave with family and up in Yosemite before the snow hit.
I'm glad the pudding recipe turned out to be really good. Makes me think of the men in the trenches having just a moment of comfort and happiness in those terrible conditions. Merry Christmas Max and thank you for all the hard work you do to entertain and educate your audience.
Just found this channel and I’m absolutely astonished. The quality, the amount of information, and the way it’s all put together is amazing. Max you do amazing work here and you deserve all the success because I can see the hard work you put into this
Thank you so much! Glad you found me : )
I'm a new fan too.
My mom used to send me care packages when I was on deployment in the navy on one of the various subs I served on and it was always very exciting cause I knew that I would have snacks for the next few weeks 😂later on my wife started sending me some during my final deployment. I spent a lot of time away from home during the holidays but never in such awful conditions as these guys had to endure. Merry Christmas!
I doubt any soldier has endured such harsh conditions in Battle at Christmas since they did. However the men in WWII at the Battle of the Buldge might have been the only ones to come close to it.
@@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980 Christmas at Stalingrad…
Thank you for your service 🙏
Merry Christmas!
@@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980 Hm, don't know about it. I think that only tracks for the western allies. The German and Russian soldiers probably did in WWII.
@@DebatingWombat Stalingrad was a completely different situation compared to the Western front. Sure, technically Christmas still happened but there was nothing even approaching the Christmas truce.
No matter what, it's ALWAYS great to see you Tack that Hard Tack!
Potato and carrot pudding is still made by my mother every Christmas. Her grandfather fought in the trenches in France and despite numerous injuries and gas attacks he survived the war, married and moved across the ocean. Whether he ever was sent one I don't know but this recipe was passsed down through the family and nowdays we serve it with brown sugar sauce (sugar, butter and water) rather than brandy sauce. As you said it's lighter than plum pudding and finishes off Christmas dinner quite well.
The World War I cease fire at Christmas was always such a fascinating story to me.
So a hack for pudding I’ve worked out, skip the outer pot and the boiling water, and put the inner vessel in the crock pot with water around it instead. Since most of them heat from the sides, you need to worry about burning the bottom less, and it also needs refilled less.
THat is something I'm going to try! Thank you.
I recall a selling point of my parent's first microwave was that it could cook a pudding, needing 9 hours to boil, in 9 minutes. I've always zapped my bought Christmas puds a slab at a time on this principle. I don't know how it would work with a made-from-scratch pudding.
Put something in the bottom to serve as a trivet, to prevent burning the bottom. My beloved Imusa grease pot/camping pot/biscuit and muffin oven, uses a 4" computer fan, supports folded down tablewise, as an excellent trivet.
This was a fairly touching episode, especially considering what's going on around the world. I hope you have an excellent time with your family. Feliz Navidad.
Moreso than nearly any of your other videos, I feel I must make this recipe. Something about the humbleness of the ingredients, the story behind them and your reaction to the taste makes me want to join you in this experience.
PS, it will be genuinely good. My mom makes almost exactly this recipe. I would recommend some caramel sauce with it, goes well with the earthy flavour from the veg.
My father fought for the U.S Army in Vietnam. I remember him telling the story of how happy he was whenever Mom sent him care packages of chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, along with pictures and love letters. This was about 60 years after WW1, but the tradition was kept; and continues to this day. Thanks for sharing this fascinating story!
The Christmas truce story always chokes me up. It truly shows how the conflict was between those not fighting. Sending boys to die in their millions for ego. Not like much has changed
War never changes
Whose ego?
@@poshboy4749 The governments ^^
it was really only because they didn't think the war would drag on for so long
@@berengerchristy6256 They always think that. Or at least they say that, whether they believe it or not.
Having just finished the incredibly impressive The Great War series on RUclips, a week by week breakdown of WWI, imagine my surprise when the next day I see Max posting this recipe!
I just started a rewatch of the The Great War myself. Just finished the Christmas episode last night, so I know exactly how you feel.
@@jennifermizutani6230 that’s awesome!
Have you started the World War II series by the same host?
@@reginabillotti I started, but I haven't been watching as regularly. I'll probably go back and binge later.
@@reginabillotti I wasn’t aware he did WWII! I’ve been mostly doing the out of the trenches stuff and also Sabaton History. It’s just crazy how this all works out thanks to Max and his amazing channel!!
What a wonderful episode. I hope Steve (the handsome guy who eats MREs from past wars) watches it too. You both truly honor the past and share so much History with us. Thank you so much for this gift.
My grandmother's first husband died in a shell blast in 1917, and my great aunt was a nurse during that war too, although she ended up serving here, so that more experienced nurses could serve overseas. At any rate, I grew up with many stories and epithets about Germans... as well as a recipe my grandmother often made called 'wartime cake' which was apparently quite popular here in Canada and very much like this recipe but without the 9 hours of boiling (it had an egg....), nor was it 'bedight' with a brandy sauce.
The Christmas peace is one of those rare moments that gives me genuine faith in humanity. I know that it didn't last, but they all did their best to bring each other peace and comfort as well as they could while they had the chance, and there is real beauty in that.
The hard tack schtick never gets old
Hard tack! * clack-clack *
I've studied "war history" for many years now; our family has a very patriotic backbone. Of all the presentations I've seen throughout my studies, Max, you have given us one of the most thoughtful, so very stirring and incredibly delicious version of a well known story. Your candor and thoughtfulness; the way you present yourself... Top notch. Id love to share some of my family's history and recipes with you. Grandpa sailed to NY from Poland... That Makes me a proud 3rd gen ski! And I'm teaching my kids how to keep our heritage alive. Wisconsin is a special place.
I dunno why but the bit where all the ingredients are listed and then shown one by one is one of my favorite parts. I love to see what goes into making something. It's kinda like "How It's Made" but for historical recipes. The whole presentation is wonderful. Cheers!
Sabaton History has a good video on the Christmas Truce as well with the song Sabaton made for it. It also mentions the other fronts on the Russian side. There are so many different fascinating stories about it!
I’m guessing there wasn’t any Christmas truce on the eastern front because the sides didn’t celebrate Christmas on the same date (the Russians were using the Julian calendar, and still are when it comes to the dates of religious holidays, so they celebrated Christmas in January).
@@ragnkja basically, but they tried to go for an Easter truth I believe and that didn't pan out well either
@@blahlbinoa
Was western and orthodox Easter at the same time that year?
Was just about to send this to Max myself.
This was an excellent episode. Let's all remember: "Old soldiers never die, young ones do!" Thank you,
I've just watched this episode with tears streaming down my cheeks. Those poor people on both sides. Thank you.
My sisters and I sat our dad down and asked him all the questions about his WW2 experience. He couldn’t respond to some of them, too deeply upsetting. But he also told us about the food. One that comes to mind was what he called “monkey brain stew. (Mostly beef. )He was also in the space program and we put all of the answers on a computer so each of us got a copy of. I can’t bring myself to listen to it because it’s my dad’s voice and I don’t think I can handle hearing him without it breaking my heart. The stories he told about food remain in our minds.
Stories of mundane experiences during wartime somehow always get me so choked up. Merry Christmas, Max. May your holidays be filled with love and light.
And... hardtack makes a valid appearance yet again. Iconic!
I may have to try this recipe! Reminds me of a woman I met whose daughter was Holland (they called her Holly) and she married a man whose last name is Jollie. Her name is now Holly Jollie. And yes, the married at Christmastime and that was the wedding march.
When you started tearing up.I got misty eyed also. Such senseless loss. Thank you mr. Max
That hardtack cutaway will never stop being funny
Wasn't expecting to cry at a Tasting History vid, but that story always makes me so 😭. Good job on the video Max, it's one of the really good ones! I hope Holly made it home.
I wish I could give more than a thumbs up. You are perfect as you are. You've achieved a perfect balance of humor, historical background and food.
Thank you, Max. The first I heard of the Christmas Truce of 1914 was its appearance as part of an episode of Doctor Who. I thought they made it up, but was pleased and surprised to learn it had really happened. There are similar stories out of the American Civil War, when Union and Confederate troops stopped firing at each other for a few hours, exchanging good-natured taunts and snatches of song instead. Ken Burns referred to them in his documentary series "The Civil War."
The depictions of the WWI troops receiving and enjoying those welcome comforts from home, put me in mind of the letters sent by troops in the Civil War, thanking their mothers, wives, sisters and aunties for similar packages, and describing how the men pooled their resources so even those who hadn't received anything could share in the cheer.
One more thing: The phrase "care package" has come into common usage over the last 50+ years, so some of your fans may not know that it originated with an organization called CARE. Beginning in 1945, the original CARE Packages were sent to European countries suffering privation in the ruins of WWII. By the early 1960's, the expression was so normalized that US parents spoke of sending "care packages" to their kids at college or summer camp. If anyone wants to know more about the history of the CARE Package, just put a "dot org" after "care" and read all about it. On their website, you can also send a little something to help those in need around the world. Yuletide blessings to all.
"From one only absent in person". And that there is the part where I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. It feels good to cry at such shows of humanity and kindness.
Is it just me - very likely it is - or is the hardtack clip sounding slightly more cursed each time, until one day it'll summon the forgotten Elder God, Har'D-T'ack, and hardtack will rain from the skies?
...
Yes, maybe I should give my therapist another call, but I'll wait until after the video.
EDIT: I finished the video and now I need to wait until I stop crying 🥲
😂
I'm not crying, you're crying.
What a sweet and tender episode. Thank you, Max.
I got really chocked up, very beautiful episode, Max. I must think about the fathers and sons caught up in the war in Ukraine, fighting for their families but separated from them for the first time on Christmas. War is the worst.
But did Holly survive the war? 🥺There is something about him signing “your only boy” that really melted my heart. 🥹❤
Judging from a intense google search I did (you will not believe how much it wanted to correct it to "holland christmas" and bring up the country!), it looks like he survived the war and passed away in 1964.
Next year, could you do an episode celebrating the early winter holiday of my ancestors; Chanukah? Fry up some latkes. I mean, what's not to like? It's fried potatoes and onions mixed into a pancake.
This is a great suggestion. 🕎
I've always had a bit of an attachment to the Christmas Truce after writing a history research paper in college. As I age, it never ceases to make me cry as a reminder that it was part of the final slide towards the modern total war. Thanks for another great video!
So my Tuesday nights are quiet . I come home , take the dog for a nice walk , make a nice salad and put this on and legit enjoy myself . Definitely a good episode 👍🏽
Oh hell. Listen to this while walking the dog. I do. :)
One historically appropriate method to seal your pudding pot, or any pot for that matter, is to make a simple dough (flower and water), put a little bit around the edge of the pot and then put the lid on.
Saw the title and instantly thought of Sabaton...
🎶Hear carols from the trenches
We sing O Holy Night
Our guns laid to rest on the snowflakes
A Christmas in the trenches
A Christmas on the front far from home🎶
"Christmas Truce" is one of a verrrrry short list of Christmas songs that don't make me want to leave the room...it's right up there with "The Night Santa Went Crazy" by Weird Al.
ROTFLMAO! 🤣 If you want some fun messed-up Christmas stuff. Then check out *Santa Claus is Satan by Aurelio Voltaire.* & then his hilarious version of Twas The Night Before Christmas titled *Twas The Night Before Black Mass.*
Both are funny, irreverent & guaranteed to annoy any & all stuffy, old fashioned & overly disapproving relatives at Christmas. Merry Christmas (& Good Luck dealing with any & all annoying relatives this year!)🎄🤣
@@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980 Happily, I've kept my relatives at a safe distance-they live on the East Coast, I live in Seattle-so Dec. 25 will be spent watching NBA basketball with my cat.
My religious duties come in the form of an all-night vigil of praise to the Old Gods four days prior (even got the day off from work this year!) Blessed Solstice, I say 😊😊
Many thanks for a particularly touching edition of Tasting History Max. Your reading of the reminiscences really brought the words to life, and the pudding looked delicious! Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to you, José, the cats, and all the Tasting History community.
As an Australian I grew up with these stories, from the ANZAC perspective of course, and the story of that first Christmas always hit a nerve, making me think of the futility of war, and especially the futility of WW1, a war which need not have happened at all. I heard similar stories from my grandfather, who served in WW2, in regard to the rations, especially when he was in New Guinea.
Thank you for this! I loved the ending. I have one of those embroidered Christmas postcards sent by my grandfather during WWI, in 1918. It is in a frame on my mantel. He talks about how he cannot wait to see the daughter he has never met (my aunt).
I'm still teared up at this Tasting History, Max. Very touching episode.
The choice of content and captivating stories, the great narration, the relevance to current events - this is my favorite episode so far and I have seen all of them!
Max, I can't tell you how much I enjoy hanging out in the kitchen with you, listening to your fascinating stories. Makes my day. Take care. Pat in New Jersey
1. I knew what to expect when I saw that this dealt with war and rations, and right after the minute mark, you did not disappoint.
2. I remember hearing about the Christmas truce of 1914 a few years back, and it is touching in of itself. However, it becomes poignant and more bittersweet when told against the diminishing quality of the soldiers' Christmases in the subsequent years.
3. I loved the easter egg of seeing your Christmas tree in the background.
Love the fact that you've been able to turn this passion of yours into such a magnificent serving of nerd fuel! Happy Holidays Max, Jose and KITTEHS. Oh, Max have you seen they make Lego tape now? New level of intensity to custom builds. Love y'all!
Oh boy a WW1 recipe? Neat! Such a forgotten time period that is so intense and interesting!
Is it really forgotten? If it is, I must be pretty biased. I mean, where I live (20-ish km from Belleau Wood), you can hardly move 2 km without seeing a WW1 cemetery, monument, commemorative plaque...
@@bobrong9645 I mean most war media focuses on most other major wars, namely WW2. It’s not talked about as mcun and is often overshadowed by WW2 because WW2 was more consequential and because 1 lead to 2. I can see why it’s not as forgotten to you as if you live near where it occured it’s going to be a bigger thing to you.
The emotions you felt making this is palpable. May the universe bless you, Max. (And Jose, of course)
The Christmas Truce is one of the most beautiful moments in human history. Even thinking about it never fails to bring me close to tears.
I recommend to everyone the excellent French/German/English film "Joyeux Noel". You'll laugh; you'll cry.
Bruh, you can't tell us about Holly Christmas and not tell us if he made it back to his family. My heart can't take that.
The Christmas Story of 1914 had me tear up a bit. We are all humans, after all.
The smile when you tasted the pudding made me imagine the British troops in their bunkers and trenches receiving a little taste of comfort at Christmas a little over 100 years ago.
WHY AM I CRYING RIGHT NOW?? Max you're a wonderful human, and your wholesome content is the bestest.