Help - can anyone tell me about this tradition ?

served Christmas eve.<BR>13 reflects the number at THE LAST SUPPER. Variations according to regions on the specialties.but tradition says the first four represent the menicant orders of friars.<BR>raisens=dominicans, dried figs=franciscans,almonds=carmelites,hazelnuts=augu stinians. Than come walnuts and one more drie fruit like dates or prunes. popular to include quince paste at this point or candied fruits. three of the deserts will be fruit, normally apples and pearsthird melon or grapes or oranges or mandarins. Nougat, soft white variety and the harder black and calissons the thirtheenth is pompe de noel a l'huile d'olive a cake sprinkled with orange flower water. Happy Holidays to you, Linda

this went down so fast, so topping for linda in case she has not seen it.

Thank you for the info - Happy holidays!

you people are amazing! Mimi - the fountain of cool food trivia! Thank you.