Why marzipan pig

It is strange that so many languages in Europe almost have the same name for marzipan, as the shortlist below shows. However, there could be a simple reason for this, and the word marzipan could originate from how it was packaged during the middle ages. Allegedly the marzipan was sold in small packages, decorated with a small image of the from either a coin from the Byzantine Empire or a coin from the Republic of Venice.

Allegedly the price for one of these boxes with marzipan was one mautheban, which was one of the coins from the Republic of Venice with an image of Christ sitting on a throne.

So the name marzipan might originate from the price, and the packaging, from when it was sold in the beginning. There are typically three main ingredients in marzipan, sugar, almonds, and a little rose water. The distinctive taste that makes the marzipan taste so good, comes mainly from the bitter almonds. When you want to make a marzipan pig, you can choose among the two different types of marzipan, pure marzipan, or marzipan for baking.

Most people use pure marzipan because it is not necessary to do any baking to make the marzipan pig. While marzipan contains a lot of sugar, it is actually good for you in small doses if you have constipation. Before the overseas trade with both America and the East Indies began to take off, marzipan was sold at the pharmacy, along with wine, liquor, spices, and confectionery. However, marzipan was very expensive, and it was only the upper-class that could afford to purchase it.

It was in the first half of the 19th century, that marzipan for Christmas in Danish: Jul began to become indispensable for the upper-class in the Northern European society. December 5, The Speicherstadt Hamburg- More than just Warehouses Home Made Marzipan. Ingredients 1 lb. Almonds- blanched, peeled, ground 3 large Egg Whites- room temperature use fresh eggs 4 tsp. Almond Extract or 2 tsp Almond Extract plus 1 Tbl. Rosewater 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar.

You can also buy Ground Almonds. In a bowl, beat the egg whites until just frothy. Add the Almond extract and rosewater if desired. Whoever finds the almond, receives a marzipan pig as a prize, which is a symbol of good luck! And how did a pig become a symbol of good luck? In the Middle Ages, farmers survived the winter depending on what they could produce.

If they were really lucky, they had a pig - which meant MEAT all winter long. You were lucky to eat, and later, you were just lucky. In the more recent years, the pig became a good luck symbol, like a four-leaf-clover. Some children are lucky to find one of these delicious piggies in their shoes on St. Nicholas Day! If you wish to order the entire counter display box, it contains 70 pieces.

Bakery-fresh taste, made with premium ingredients and hand-kneaded dough. Classic candied fruit and marzipan varieties from Niederegger, Kuchenmeister, Emil Reimann and more. If you buy a large order of these sweet treats to serve at your new year's party, the bakery will usually include a "trick" doughnut filled with mustard instead of jam for one unsuspecting guest.

As if it weren't unlucky enough to get a mouth full of mustard instead of jam, Mic says that getting the mustard-filled pfannkuchen signifies bad luck for the coming year, so be sure to balance it out with plenty of marzipan pigs.

If you're idea of a happy new year is a little more low key, you can always just kick back and enjoy the classic black and white British play "Dinner for One," that has for some reason aired on German television almost every New Year's Eve since via Business Insider.