Unholy, Somewhat Sacred, & Disturbing Holiday Rituals

Unholy, Somewhat Sacred, & Disturbing Holiday Rituals

Over the years, my small family unit has developed a number of odd, if not downright disturbing, holiday rituals. There’s the St. Patty’s Day Libation to Anna Livia Plurabelle, the Wild Pumpkin Dance at Halloween, and every Easter, the Silencing of the Lamb.

When my oldest daughter was quite young, The Wife made an Easter lamb cake, and so it began.

If ever there was a following I’d like to be a part of it, it would be the cult of Mithras. The details of this faith are scanty, but it involved Italian warriors who met underground to slay livestock, respectfully and ritualistically, and have a meal.



So, on that Easter in the mid-80’s, averting my eyes out of respect for the beast, I sat up at the Easter table and cut off the head of the Easter lamb, much to the horror of my baby daughter, who soon came to revel in the sacrifice of the lamb every Easter.



Now, this has become an annual event, much anticipated, and this year, my friend Barry Ward ratcheted up the ritual by recording his own soundtrack (“Godfather,” with crying lamb SFX) and fashioning his own garrote. It was, in a word, disturbing.



More disturbing is that next year, it’s my turn again, after all these years. For a short video of this year’s event, see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbTWauRjuxE

Hammond

The head of our lamb cake tonight, once removed and plattered, was decorated around the neck with filling from the cherry pie.

That looks kind of like a poodle.

David Hammond wrote:More disturbing is that next year, it’s my turn again, after all these years.

Small air gun, two in the back of the head. Done and done.

Construct a small guillotine.

You could use it to chop vegetables in the future.

teatpuller wrote:That looks kind of like a poodle.

Yes it does. It's an Easter Poodle.

That is some nicely toasted coconut.

This year was the first year that either of my children had an interest in the lamb cake. My three year old was terribly excited over it when it got brought to the table.

My Aunt asked her what part of the cake she wanted, and she told her "I want the head!"

Lambykins head was promptly lobbed off and served up on a platter for her enjoyment.

Does anyone know if lamb cakes - or lamb butter, for that matter - is regionally specific to Chicago or the Midwest? (Or even just north of the Mason Dixon?) I grew up in Texas and never saw any food, baked, churned, or otherwise, with such a pastoral shape.

Many thanks,
Kevin

ksbeck wrote:Does anyone know if lamb cakes - or lamb butter, for that matter - is regionally specific to Chicago or the Midwest? (Or even just north of the Mason Dixon?) I grew up in Texas and never saw any food, baked, churned, or otherwise, with such a pastoral shape.

Many thanks,
Kevin

Never saw similar either my years in Texas. It's one of my favorite Chicago things...salted butter lambs that inevitably stick around in the fridge until way past the due date(cuz, why would I deface such a charming product?)

Christopher Gordon wrote:It's one of my favorite Chicago things...salted butter lambs that inevitably stick around in the fridge until way past the due date(cuz, why would I deface such a charming product?)

I agree - I've really come to like them since I've moved here. The whole concept, from the religious symbolism, to the wee little eyes, and faux wool, is disturbing, yet also strangely compelling. Although it was missing from the table this year, my father-in-law always insists on being served the ass.

LAMB cake?? Lamb CAKE?? What are you people TALKING about?? I have never ever in my whole life heard of such a weird thing. Yet you strange Chicagoans talk so easily about it, as if you all knew exactly what you were talking about.

You're putting us all on, right? Hammond set you all up, didn't he, and said 'hey, let's just start talking about lamb cake and see who we can get a rise out of'? Gotta be that.

And Gary, shame on you for joining them in this heinous plot!! Next thing we know, you'll be talking about smoking that particular idol....

I most certainly won't mention this to ANYone in either KC or Montreal. They'd be embarrassed that I was almost taken in by this ruse.

Geo
Watching the Vermont Air Guard Green Mountain Boys having fun with their F-16's here at Burlington Int'l. Airport


Lamb Cake. As if.

Hi,

I did not realize the lamb cake one can easily buy in Chicago area bakeries and grocery stores was regional. I even have molds for making these beasts. Hmmm maybe these would sell well on e-Bay to former Chicagoans who cannot get lamb cake at their current location.

Regards,

Geo wrote:LAMB cake?? Lamb CAKE?? What are you people TALKING about?? I have never ever in my whole life heard of such a weird thing. Yet you strange Chicagoans talk so easily about it, as if you all knew exactly what you were talking about.

Please look at the logo at the top of the page* to see a real Lamb Cake. I shot this specimen at Bennison's just before the Luther Burgerextravaganza.

To further amaze those not familiar with the Lamb Cake phenomenon, there is also its cousin the Bunny Cake.



* permalink in case the logo has changed

Not limited to Chicago -- they had them in Detroit. Also, the lamb-shaped butter molds, which I understood to be a Polish tradition.

LAZ wrote:Not limited to Chicago -- they had them in Detroit. Also, the lamb-shaped butter molds, which I understood to be a Polish tradition.

I wasn't sure the parameters of what may be the land of Lamb Cake.

Regards,

Well I can report this for a fact: my mother's mother was a Bozack, and we spent time in the Polish neighborhood of Granite City, near St. Louis, a bunch when I was a kid. No lamb cakes there.

stevez--I'd seen the logo, but couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was, esp. with that photoshopped face--or is that lipstick or something??

Whooo-eeeey!

Geo

Geo wrote:stevez--I'd seen the logo, but couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was, esp. with that photoshopped face--or is that lipstick or something??

That is the way it comes right from the bakery. No wonder Hammond likes to decapitate them!

you are not alone!




and a video from last year...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxpc5YcaKO0

he a natural born killer!

mhill95149 wrote:you are not alone!

I guess not! I love the family sing-along prelude to the act. Is there jelly in the neck as someone mentioned?

We've talked about it but our 76 year-old pastry chef (mom) is not interested in adding to the "fun" I figure if a few years when I take over the baking of the lamb cakes, I'll embed something that will quell the "blood-lust" of our clan...

mhill95149 wrote:We've talked about it but our 76 year-old pastry chef (mom) is not interested in adding to the "fun" I figure if a few years when I take over the baking of the lamb cakes, I'll embed something that will quell the "blood-lust" of our clan...

I have to plus up my sacrificial act next year, and I've been toying with the idea of some kind of foot-operated bladder that I can pump under the table to send showers of blood over the table. from the neck, once the head is removed. But I don't want to turn this into a Gallagher show, and perhaps this stage piece would be too disturbing even for my family. Perhaps.

Kind of a "black Knight" moment...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eMkth8FWno

Why not make it into a poke cake using black cherry jello (or, better still, homemade pomegranate juice gelatin.) There's something satisfyingly gory about a poke cake...

David Hammond wrote:I have to plus up my sacrificial act next year, and I've been toying with the idea of some kind of foot-operated bladder that I can pump under the table to send showers of blood over the table. from the neck, once the head is removed. But I don't want to turn this into a Gallagher show, and perhaps this stage piece would be too disturbing even for my family. Perhaps.

I'd keep it simple. Puree some raspberries (okay to use frozen) in a blender with a little sugar and lots of red food coloring (plus a bit of blue if needed). Strain if desired. Fill a thin plastic bag with the "blood" and tie it off leaving no air bubbles. Trim off excess plastic, rinse and dry. It shouldn't be too hard to implant this in the hollowed-out lower head and upper neck of the lamb cake. You don't need good surgical technique since you can cover the incisions with frosting. For full effect use an all-white lamb on a white plate. Your family ought to love it.

Cathy2 wrote:

LAZ wrote:Not limited to Chicago -- they had them in Detroit. Also, the lamb-shaped butter molds, which I understood to be a Polish tradition.

I wasn't sure the parameters of what may be the land of Lamb Cake.

My Grandma, who lived outside of Lima, Ohio, used to make lamb cake. After she died, the mold was an object of considerable contention (I didn't get it). I guess I didn't know anyone bought lamb cakes.

No lamb cake this year but definitely the lamb butter.

My age-demented Mom was doing her damndest to set the table while I was cooking -- she had already been banned from the kitchen. I had already laid out the butter. She decided to cut it in half. There is no use in asking her why. I tried to distract her with shiny things in a different room.

I pushed the pieces of the butter back together -- it looked pretty good. Ten minutes later I peeked at the table and found that the lamb butter was cut in half again. I banned Mom from the dining room now too. She sat in the living room and pretended to cry, loud, tragi-comic sobs.

Immediately after saying grace, my daughter B literally fell out of her chair, and while writhing on the ground, kept repeating," I'm guilty. So guilty." Seems she was the one to kill the lamb butter the second time.

We all had a good laugh. Even my mom, though she had no idea why.

-ramon

mhill95149 wrote:you are not alone!




and a video from last year...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxpc5YcaKO0

he a natural born killer!

You know what impressed me most about this post? Everyone was dressed up to celebrate from the girls in dresses to the boys wearing ties. It is nice someone is maintaining standards, though admittedly it isn't happening at my household.

Regards,

I never saw lamb butter until I moved to Chicagoland. I think it is a lovely touch. I have lived in Tennessee, Ohio and Missouri, if that adds to the regional assessment.

Geo wrote:LAMB cake?? Lamb CAKE?? What are you people TALKING about?? I have never ever in my whole life heard of such a weird thing. Yet you strange Chicagoans talk so easily about it, as if you all knew exactly what you were talking about.

You're putting us all on, right? Hammond set you all up, didn't he, and said 'hey, let's just start talking about lamb cake and see who we can get a rise out of'? Gotta be that.

Another data point on the regionality of Easter lamb cake: I was talking to a couple who originated from Richmond, Virginia and the Carolinas. I happened to mention lamb cake, then realized they might not have heard about it. I inquired if they knew what a lamb cake might be? They had never heard of it and speculated it might be a lamb meat cake of some sort. I advised they were in for a treat at Easter when every bakery and grocery store had variations of decorated cakes shaped like a lamb.

I had hoped to learn the scope of the Easter lamb cake mold market from Wilton. Unfortunately they were not prepared to offer information for competitive reasons.

Regards,