For The Dark Mixture:

3 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 cup of shortening
1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup of raisins, ground
1 cup of nuts, ground

For The Light Mixture:

2 cups of flour
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of soda
1/2 cup of shortening
3/4 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2 tablespoons of water
1/4 cup of chopped candied cherries

Dark Mixture:
Sift together flour, soda, salt and spices. Cream shortening with brown sugar, add eggs and beat well. Stir in dry ingredients, nuts and raisins.

Christmas is the time of year when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, and it is a tradition as old as time. The name ‘Christmas’ actually comes from the early English phrase ‘Christes Masse’, which means the Mass of Christ. Although there were competing groups who felt that Jesus’ birth and his ascendancy into divinity may have been on two different occasions, it was settled to be on the 25 of December, which is the day that Christmas is celebrated on year round now.