The town ushers in the Christmas season with what is called the cake mixing ceremony – soaking dry fruits in alcohol weeks before it takes the shape of cakes and pudding for Christmas.
Fortune Inn Valley view celebrated the tradition recently at the Chaitya Hall and Dr Ramdas M Pai, Chancellor, Manipal University and Vasanthi Pai dug their hands in to do the first bit of mixing of the colourful dry fruits beautifully laid out on a table. Pro-chancellor Dr H S Ballal, Vice-chancellor Dr Vinod Bhat and other officials of Manipal University were present.
Prior to start of the ceremony, Uday Sharma, general manager of the hotel, shared the story about the tradition of Christmas cake mixing which welcomes the festive season.
“Traditionally, plum cakes are prepared by soaking cashew nuts, walnuts, figs, dry apricots, orange peels, almonds, cranberries, prunes, raisins and spices with brandy and whisky weeks in advance. The mix helps the cake to develop better aroma and taste. As a part of the tradition, the mix is kept in an upside-down airtight container and a small amount of brandy, rum or whisky is poured in every week until Christmas. This process is called “feeding” the cake,” he added.
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