Mention fruit cake and everyone within earshot will have an opinion about it—and is likely to express said opinion, usually unfavorably. But I love the fruitcake—the one of which I speak is what Paige made each year. Actually we would make it together. I helped prepare ingredients— spending hours chopping pecans and candied cherries—Paige had definite opinions the size of nut chips (it required one quart of fresh pecans–that’s P-cans). Thankfully, our daughters eventually mastered the art of making that cake! The legend lives on.
The Claxton Fruitcake, darker than Paige’s, is known internationally. It was founded in 1910, and is still a product of Claxton, GA, in Southeast Georgia. I knew Mr. Albert Parker, and his family; he was the “daddy rabbit” of the company. He bought the company in 1945 and took the Claxton Fruitcake worldwide. I won’t compare the Claxton fruitcake to Paige’s. It is unfair to compare almost any factory-made food with home-kitchen-made food, good, home-kitchen, Southern comfort food.
Paige always started planning in late October and gathering ingredients for her annual fruitcake; it had to be ready for baking by Christmas. Last fall, Jennifer started as her mother would have. By Thanksgiving she was almost ready to start the assembly process. Then tragedy struck. Wade, Zach and Katie’s father, fell causing a Spinal Cord injury. It changed everything. Zach—with a full-time job. and Katie—in Law School— had to jump into new roles they could never have imagined. Jennifer took part helping them as much as she could. The fruitcake ingredients we had prepared were put on hold.
After Christmas, as Wade’s treatments were settling into routines, Jennifer set about to make The Fruitcake;—maybe a little out of stress relief, a little desire for diversion, and I think a lot honoring her mother. Jennifer was not entirely happy about how it turned out, but it is delicious. By the time you read this only crumbs will be left—-if that. Jennifer planned to cut it in half and use one half and freeze the other for later. So much for that idea!
Family customs and traditions are passed down through the years; tweaks, updates, and replacements often happen. The significant cherished traditions tend to help define a family. I don’t remember how The Fruitcake became a standard Christmas tradition for our family; The plethora of pictures of Paige, Katie, and Zach in our kitchen, scraping, stiring mixing bowls while assembling this masterpiece (and the famous Sour Cream Pound Cake) kinda tell a significant story.
In the Gospel of Luke there is a passage that gives insight into tradition in the early life of Jesus. He went to church as was his custom. In his his life story, we see that he did continue keeping that custom, but for me is it significant that Luke says so. Traditions and customs play an important role in how we define ourselves.
© Copyright Willis H. Moore 2025
I know the fruitcake was delicious. Glad you all are following Paige’s tradition.
As always I enjoy Friday report from you.