Tradition

Pie and Mash: A British Culinary Icon Fights for Protected Status

Pie and mash, an iconic dish of British cuisine, is at the heart of a campaign to secure a protected designation, similar to champagne or parmesan. In a pie and mash shop in East London, the atmosphere is simple: no menu, just one specialty – a beef pie accompanied by a scoop of mashed potatoes, covered with a parsley sauce known as ...

Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus: A Common Origin?

The legend of Saint Nicholas dates back to the fourth century in Lycia, an area in present-day Turkey. Born in 270 in Patara to a wealthy, devout Christian family, Nicholas inherited a great fortune upon the death of his parents and chose to give it to the poor. Nicholas became the Bishop of Myra at a young age and is believed to have ...