Friday, 24 December 2010
-
Edible Baby Jesus?!
In considering my Christmas grocery list, I was reminded of the tiny cake topper that my mom passed down to me years ago, comprised of a no more than one inch high Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in the manger. It was lost long ago, probably in one of the many moves our family has been through. Thinking that it would be a good idea to revive the Happy Birthday Jesus cake tradition, I was innocently googling nativity cake toppers, when I came across this:
Really, it is a beautiful cake! But I stopped dead in my (reading) tracks, when I found out the cake topper was edible. Let me say that I'm all for edible cake toppers as long as they are roses or Elmo or whatever, but something just doesn't sit right with me in thinking about biting the head off of the Virgin Mary or baby Jesus for that matter!Biting heads off of food is something I reserve for gummy bears or gingerbread men. These are faceless, nameless and, ultimately, meaningless little creatures. There was no greater joy in my childhood than the pure satisfaction of having committed such a horrible food crime and then announcing it, while parading the evidence around, to all your friends and anyone else who would bother to listen.
The author who was describing the cake apparently thought nothing of it as she went on to say how meaningful the cake was and how it really captured the reason for the season. Yes, that makes sense...UNTIL YOU EAT THE CHRIST CHILD! I am not Catholic, but this puts a whole different perspective on the partaking of the body and blood of Jesus. This is not the sacrament of holy communion! This is a birthday cake!
I just wanted some little figurines that reminded me of the ones from my childhood. I only wanted to top a simple Christmas birthday cake covered in coconut to resemble hay. That's all. This would have been a perfect replacement...had it been plastic or ceramic.
Does this bother anyone else or am I just making a big deal out of nothing?
If I am, my apologies for my momentary horror while seeking to recapture a little of the reverence of the holiday that these figures represent.
RecommendRelated Posts
Post a Comment
- Back to ireallylikefood's IReallyLikeFood Site!
- Note: your comment will appear in ireallylikefood's local time zone: GMT -05:00 (Eastern Standard - US, Canada)
About the Author
-
- From: chelleannette@xanga
- About Me: I'm an almost 40 mother of three teenagers, two crazy fat dogs and one husband. I live in and love New York City. In the last five years or so I've taken up French, shooting for eventual fluency and possibly picking up one day with the man after the kids are gone and moving it all to France. I also learned how to play tennis in the last few years and have, consequently become obsessed with the sport and acquired the delusion of playing on the WTA seniors tour or in a grand slam (Watch out Serena!) Living passionately, I want to see, smell, taste and feel the world through relationships, travel, food and whatever else life throws at me. Still waiting to discover what I want to be when I grow up!
Stats: This Week All Time Posts: 0 42 Views: 0 70853 Comments: 0 641 View all posts by chelleannette@xanga
Comments (22)
Um. I definitely draw the line somewhere BEFORE biting off the Christ child's head. No edible Nativity figurines for me, please.
The figurines appear to be made out of fondant, and such thick figures are usually taken off before consumption. They are for display, only to decorate the cake. Fondant on it's own tastes bland and really is just decorative-so calm down. Besides, it was made with good intentions. I would only be worried if the entire cake was in the image of the manger scene- then it would be kinda weird.
@KatBuj@xanga - Yeah, I figured the stuff was made out of fondant and let me tell you... It's not delicious... I would take that topper and throw it away... Although it can last for a really long time... Not to be eaten, of course, if it's been left out for a week...
Huh, I thought only Irish babies were edible. Good to know that I can get a bland baby Jesus.
@KatBuj@xanga -
exactly....so you can eat it or throw it out. what's worse? do you throw out old nativity scenes to get new ones? yes. alright then.
So, do you want to eat it or chuck it in the bin? It's just a cake.
I'd eat the cake part. I love cake. the baby? Throw it out eventually.
I would eat it.
Then, take a Holy shit.
sorry. that was tasteless. 'Tis the season.
@lonelystrangergirl@xanga - HAHAHAHAHAHA
It's cute! But I probably wouldn't eat the topper haha :)
@lonelystrangergirl@xanga - i lolled
@lonelystrangergirl@xanga - LOL.
I have a rule for myself that started when I was a little kid; I never eat anything that has "eyes" (that goes double for gummy bears, which also have tiny bellybuttons...
) So eating a baby Jesus (though I know it in no way resembles Him in the first place) just seems so wrong somehow. I don't consider the Virgin Mary in the same league as Jesus (she's more like John the Baptist or Moses, in the way I view these things) so I'd be less reluctant to eat a candy Mary, but still would find it a bit weird. I guess the concept of decorating a cake like that is pretty cool; honoring the event that is the reason a whole lot of people celebrate Christmas and all....but inedible ornaments just seem more...seemly.
So, you're not alone.
I've always found eating human figures to be rather weird-ish. I don't even enjoy gingerbread men. It doesn't bother me if someone else wants to do it though. I know it's a personal problem I have since the figures are obviously not human and so the thinking part of my mind knows it's no big deal. The emotional side of me runs totally seperate from my mind at times and I even cringe when they do the Lords Supper at church and the preacher says the "eating the body of Christ" part.
I don't see a big deal with it. Au to the passion of creation! And especially if it's food!
well i've always wanted jesus in my mouth.
gosh there were so many directions to go with this...@KatBuj@xanga - @T0m03@xanga - The description for these cake toppers is "edible cake topper". Just sayin'.
@chelleannette@xanga - We were pointing out the fact that people can choose not to eat it.
@T0m03@xanga - point taken. Just weird that someone would choose to make it edible and market it as such.
I know it's edible. You can still eat it. You will not die. It's just not tasty.
I agree with the author of this post. I would not eat images of baby or adult Jesus and I would not serve them to be eaten. I'm searching for reusable images. God's blessings to all!