Where did the tradition of stringing popcorn come from?
Its origins are unknown. Perhaps settlers borrowed the art of popcorn stringing from the German tradition of decorating trees with fruit? Cranberries were the most likely fruit choice to string popcorn into Christmas tree garlands because November is cranberry season. Today, many people purchase artificial popcorn wreaths.
Why are Christmas tree garlands often made with fruit and popcorn?
When Christmas Trees first rose to prominence in the United States and were often decorated with fruits and other items. A tradition of stringing popcorn and cranberries into a garland wrapped around the tree was born. But you may be wondering why Christmas tree garlands are often made with fruit and popcorn?
How do you make popcorn garlands with popcorn kernels?
Push the needle through the center of a popcorn kernel, and pull it through to the end of the thread. Alternate popcorn with fresh cranberries and whatever else you please—some fun ideas include cinnamon sticks and dried orange slices! Repeat with more garlands and tie them together to make a big one.
What is your favorite childhood memory of stringing popcorn to Garland?
A favorite childhood memory of many is stringing popcorn to create garland for a Christmas tree, even though it meant withstanding pricks and pokes from the needle. The perk was getting to secretly munch on the popcorn stash as you worked.
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Where did popcorn garland originate?
Today, popcorn garlands are considered to be a classic American Christmas decoration, but they actually date back to Victorian England: American colonists in Williamsburg, Virginia, spruced up their own trees with popcorn as early as 1842.
Why was popcorn used as garland?
According to The Popcorn Board, popcorn as a holiday decoration became particularly popular in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries because the inexpensive snack food was seen as a festive, fun treat, particularly by young people.
Why do people make popcorn garlands at Christmas?
A favorite childhood memory of many is stringing popcorn to create garland for a Christmas tree, even though it meant withstanding pricks and pokes from the needle. The perk was getting to secretly munch on the popcorn stash as you worked. How did this tradition get started?
Where did popcorn on a string originate?
In America, German immigrants and German Americans largely popularized the concept of stringing popcorn as a yuletide decoration. They colored the popcorn using dyes and interspersed the garlands with nuts, fruits and other edible treats.
How long will popcorn garland last?
about 3 daysThread the first cranberry and knot it at the end of the string. Alternate berries (3 to 10) with each piece of popcorn. When your garland is long enough, tie a knot after the last cranberry. Without sealant, garlands are good for about 3 days.
Does popcorn garland attract bugs?
Hanging Garland It's an easy way to add holiday décor, but it's also a great hiding place for insects. Before buying, shake out the garland to get rid of insects.
What kind of popcorn do you use for garland?
0:392:18How to Make a Popcorn-Cranberry Garland for Your Christmas TreeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen leave it out for a day or two to get stale fresh popcorn breaks too easily for stringing if youMoreThen leave it out for a day or two to get stale fresh popcorn breaks too easily for stringing if you're using microwave popcorn.
What kind of string do you use for popcorn garland?
I prefer to use white because it blends in with the popcorn, but it really doesn't matter what color you use. You could use fishing line or even dental floss in a pinch. As long as you have long lengths of it and it's thin, you'll be fine. You also want a good sharp sewing needle.
How do you hang popcorn garland?
You'll want to push the needle directly through the center of the kernel and pull it through to the end of the thread. Continue adding popcorn until the garland is full. There shouldn't be any gaps between the pieces of popcorn, so push the kernels all the way down to keep them tightly strung on the thread as you go.
Why do people string cranberries for Christmas?
To create a crimson, fresh-from-nature garland for your Christmas tree, you need a string or thread, a needle, and, of course, cranberries. Thanks to cranberries' wax-like coating, your garland will retain its loveliness through the season. Like other fruits, people and pets shouldn't eat the lingering berries.
Did the Victorians have popcorn?
In fact, it was the creation of an iconic snack in the 1890's that changed how America ate popcorn. The name, 'Cracker Jack' (which was actually a Victorian Era slang term describing something of excellent quality), was registered in 1896 and the rest is history.
How do you put popcorn on a Christmas tree?
You'll want to push the needle directly through the center of the kernel and pull it through to the end of the thread. Continue adding popcorn until the garland is full. There shouldn't be any gaps between the pieces of popcorn, so push the kernels all the way down to keep them tightly strung on the thread as you go.
What is the history of popcorn?
It's been said that popcorn was part of the first Thanksgiving feast, in Plymouth Colony in 1621. According to myth, Squanto himself taught the Pilgrims to raise and harvest corn, and pop the kernels for a delicious snack.
Where did popcorn originate?
Popcorn Dates Back Thousands of Years. Biblical accounts of "corn" stored in the pyramids of Egypt are misunderstood. The "corn" from the bible was probably barley. The mistake comes from a changed use of the word "corn," which used to signify the most-used grain of a specific place. In England, "corn" was wheat, ...
Where was popcorn first used?
The oldest ears of popcorn ever found were discovered in the Bat Cave of west central New Mexico in 1948 and 1950. Ranging from smaller than a penny to about 2 inches, the oldest Bat Cave ears are about 4,000 years old.
How many quarts of popcorn do Americans eat a year?
Whether stovetop popped, fresh from the microwave (see above) or ready to eat, Americans love popcorn. In fact, Americans today consume 15 billion quarts of popped popcorn each year. That averages to about 47 quarts per person.
What is popcorn with kernels on it?
Exploring Paraguay during the 18th century, Felix de Azara told of a kind of popcorn with kernels on the tassel which, when "it is boiled in fat or oil, the grains burst without becoming detached, and there results a superb bouquet fit to adorn a lady's hair at night without anyone knowing what it was. I have often eaten these burst grains and found them very good."
What were the most popular confections in Victorian times?
Victorian families often decorated fireplace mantels, doorways and Christmas trees with ornate ornaments made from popcorn balls. And by the turn of the century, most cookbooks featured at least one recipe. Popcorn balls were one of the most popular confections and often given as gifts.
Why did popcorn sales increase during the Depression?
A major reason for this increase was the introduction of popcorn into movie theaters and its low cost for both patron and owner. One theater owner actually lowered the price of his theater tickets and added a popcorn machine.
Why is popcorn so popular?
Popcorn fascinated and particularly delighted the young, thus popcorn became increasingly popular around holiday time—Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter and especially Christmas. Because of its low cost, popcorn was ideal for Christmas decorations, food, and gift giving.
When did popcorn garlands become popular?
Today, popcorn garlands are considered to be a classic American Christmas decoration, but they actually date back to Victorian England: American colonists in Williamsburg, Virginia, spruced up their own trees with popcorn as early as 1842. German-Americans helped to cement popcorn's status as an iconic Christmas tree decoration in the early twentieth century (they dyed it different colors and strung it along with edible treats like fruit and nuts). Cranberries soon became a popular addition because of their long shelf life, but you can use just about anything when making your own popcorn garland.
How to make a popcorn garland with cranberries?
Push the needle through the center of a popcorn kernel, and pull it through to the end of the thread. Alternate popcorn with fresh cranberries and whatever else you please—some fun ideas include cinnamon sticks and dried orange slices! Repeat with more garlands and tie them together to make a big one. Note: The fresh cranberries won't last longer than a day or two, but you can spray the garland with shellac to preserve it.
How long do cranberries last in a garland?
Repeat with more garlands and tie them together to make a big one. Note: The fresh cranberries won't last longer than a day or two, but you can spray the garland with shellac to preserve it.
How long does microwave popcorn last?
If using microwave popcorn, just make sure it has no butter or salt! Leave the popcorn out for 1 to 2 days so it hardens and becomes strong enough to thread. (Learn how to make stovetop popcorn here.)
What did German Americans do to Christmas trees?
German-Americans helped to cement popcorn's status as an iconic Christmas tree decoration in the early twentieth century (they dyed it different colors and strung it along with edible treats like fruit and nuts).
Where was popcorn first found?
It’s hard to think of a more purely American food than popcorn. Whether it’s salted and buttered at a movie theatre, kettle corn at a state fair or a caramel popcorn ball at holiday time, we devour the stuff. And we’re far from the world’s first popcorn fans: Archeologists have found traces of popcorn in 1,000-year-old Peruvian tombs. This week, we’ll take a look at the story behind this popular snack, and discover that there’s more beneath that hard husk than meets the eye.
Where did the first popcorn makers come from?
The Iroquois nation spread throughout the Great Lakes region, so it’s likely that settlers to upstate New York, Vermont and Quebec were the earliest European-American popcorn makers.
What was the steaming of popcorn?
The steam ensured all kernels would be heated evenly, for the maximum number of popped kernels, and it also enabled users to pop the corn directly in the desired seasonings. By 1900, Cretors introduced a horse-drawn popcorn wagon, and the era of the popcorn eaters began.
When was popcorn first used for Thanksgiving?
It’s been said that popcorn was part of the first Thanksgiving feast, in Plymouth Colony in 1621 .
When was microwave popcorn invented?
The first patent for a microwave popcorn bag was issued to General Mills in 1981 , and home popcorn consumption increased by tens of thousands of pounds in the years following. Today, Americans eat about a million pounds worth of (unpopped) popcorn a year.
Did Plymouth grow corn?
While the early settlers at Plymouth did indeed grow corn, it was of the Northern Flint variety, with delicate kernels that are unsuitable for popping. No contemporary accounts reference eating or making popcorn in that area, and the first mention of popcorn at Thanksgiving doesn’t appear until a fictional work published in 1889, ...
Where did popping corn originate?
Through the 19th century, popping of the kernels was achieved by hand on stove tops. Kernels were sold on the East Coast of the United States under names such as Pearls or Nonpareil. The term popped corn first appeared in John Russell Bartlett 's 1848 Dictionary of Americanisms. Popcorn is an ingredient in Cracker Jack and, in the early years of the product, it was popped by hand.
What is a popcorn?
Popcorn. For other uses, see Popcorn (disambiguation). Popcorn ( popped corn, popcorns or pop-corn) is a variety of corn kernel which expands and puffs up when heated ; the same names are also used to refer to the foodstuff produced by the expansion.
What is the name of the corn that expands when heated?
Subspecies: Z. m. everta. Trinomial name. Zea mays everta. Popcorn ( popped corn, popcorns or pop-corn) is a variety of corn kernel which expands and puffs up when heated; the same names are also used to refer to the foodstuff produced by the expansion. A popcorn kernel's strong hull contains the seed's hard, starchy shell endosperm ...
Why do popcorn kernels not pop?
Known in the popcorn industry as "old maids", these kernels fail to pop because they do not have enough moisture to create enough steam for an explosion. Re-hydrating prior to popping usually results in eliminating the unpopped kernels.
How much moisture does a popcorn kernel have?
A popcorn kernel's strong hull contains the seed's hard, starchy shell endosperm with 14–20% moisture, which turns to steam as the kernel is heated. Pressure from the steam continues to build until the hull ruptures, allowing the kernel to forcefully expand, from 20 to 50 times its original size, and then cool.
Why does popcorn pop?
Popcorn will pop when freshly harvested, but not well; its high moisture content leads to poor expansion and chewy pieces of popcorn. Kernels with a high moisture content are also susceptible to mold when stored. For these reasons, popcorn growers and distributors dry the kernels until they reach the moisture level at which they expand the most. This differs by variety and conditions, but is generally in the range of 14–15% moisture by weight. If the kernels are over-dried, the expansion rate will suffer and the percentage of kernels that pop will decline. Old popcorn tends to dry out, lowering the yield.
How much did popcorn cost during the Great Depression?
During the Great Depression, popcorn was fairly inexpensive at 5–10 cents a bag and became popular. Thus, while other businesses failed, the popcorn business thrived and became a source of income for many struggling farmers, including the Redenbacher family, namesake of the famous popcorn brand.
Why do we put popcorn on Christmas trees?
Perhaps settlers borrowed the art of popcorn stringing from the German tradition of decorating trees with fruit? Cranberries were the most likely fruit choice to string popcorn into Christmas tree garlands because November is cranberry season.
Why did Queen Victoria ask for a Christmas tree?
In 1848, Queen Victoria asked to have a Christmas tree put up because Prince Albert’s family always decorated a tree for Christmas. Soon after, newspapers published illustrations of the Royal Christmas Tree. It didn’t take long after that for Christmas trees to become popular in Europe. Eventually, the tradition spread to North America too.
Can you make garlands with popcorn?
Today, many people purchase artificial popcorn wreaths. While some families still thread twine or dental floss through popcorn and cranberries to make a holiday garland. It is also common practice to make garlands with real cranberries and popcorn. These garlands are strung outside on evergreens to give birds, squirrels, and other wildlife a treat for the holidays!
How to make a popcorn garland?
How to make an old fashioned Popcorn Garland: First you will need to pop a whole lot of popcorn because there will be some snacking going on. Do not use pre packaged popcorn. It’s buttery, and would get expensive. Buy a bag of plain popcorn kernels.
How far down do you put popcorn down the thread?
Then slide the popcorn down the thread about 24-36 inches. We are going to work in small lengths so it doesn’t get all tangled up and break apart. This is a delicate garland.
How to get popcorn out of the microwave?
Buy a bag of plain popcorn kernels. Put ¼ cup of the kernels into a lunch sized brown paper bag, and microwave as you normally would. Just a rule of thumb, when you don’t hear any popping for two full seconds, it is time to take it out. Repeat as needed.
What is the purpose of stringing popcorn and cranberries into garland?
Stringing popcorn and cranberries into garland is something one can do with family of all ages, at home, that requires very little money, and that permits a lot of social interaction during the lead-up to Christmas. It keeps the little ones occupied while the tree itself is being dragged around, or while cookies are in the oven.
What was the popcorn boom?
Popcorn vendors followed the crowds, set up shop, and introduced popcorn neophytes to the joys of butter, salt, and crunch. It was a cheap and tasty hit. As fate would have it, the popcorn boom coincided with the dawn of nickelodeon (or dime) theatres.
What was the best thing about popcorn during the Great Depression?
The Great Depression presented an excellent opportunity for both movies and popcorn. Looking for a cheap diversion, audiences flocked to the movies. And at 5 to 10 cents a bag, popcorn was a luxury that most people were able to afford. Popcorn kernels themselves were a cheap investment for purveyors, and a $10 bag could last for years. If those inside the theaters couldn't see the financial lure of popcorn, enterprising street vendors didn't miss a beat: they bought their own popping machines and sold popcorn outside the theaters to moviegoers before they entered the theater.
Why do we string popcorn on Christmas trees?
How did popcorn end up on our Christmas trees? While its origins are not completely known, the art of stringing popcorn on a tree most likely came from the fact that when Christmas trees first became widespread, people didn’t have much to decorate them with. They borrowed from the German tradition of putting fruit on the trees and because cranberries are harvested through November, its most likely that they were strung with popcorn as they were still in season.
Why do we associate popcorn with cinema?
We associate popcorn with cinema because our earliest and formative experiences of cinema involved popcorn - the smell, the feel of the buttered or salted kernels, the taste. Our earliest cinematic experiences involved popcorn most likely because our parents wanted our first film viewing to be the full works, and because popcorn was already inextricably part of that, for the reasons mentioned.
Why is popcorn so popular?
One reason for popcorn's increasing popularity was its mobility: in 1885, the first steam-powered popcorn maker hit the streets, invented by Charles Cretor. The mobile nature of the machine made it the perfect production machine for serving patrons attending outdoor sporting events, or circuses and fairs....
What was a popular snack food in both American and Europe for decades before the Lumière brothers dreamt of moving pictures?
Popcorn was a popular* street snack food in both American and Europe for decades before the Lumière brothers dreamt of moving pictures - why?
What is a garland?
A garland is a decorative braid, knot or wreath of flowers, leaves, or other material. Garlands can be worn on the head or around the neck, hung on an inanimate object, or laid in a place of cultural or religious importance. Tinsel garlands on a Christmas tree.
What are garlands used for?
Marigold and nitya kalyani garlands are used only for corpses in burial rituals. At social functions, garlands are used to denote the host. At Srirangam Ranganathar temple, only garlands made by temple sattharars ( brahmacaris employed for garland-making)are used to adorn the deity Ranganatha.
How thick are garlands?
These garlands range in length from 1 1/2 feet to 12 feet and have a thickness that varies from 2 inches to 3/4 feet in diameter. Kortha maalai - made using needle and thread. Jasmine, mullai, and lotus garlands are made using this method.
How to make a daisy garland?
A garland created from the daisy flower (generally as a children's game) is called a daisy chain. One method of creating a daisy chain is to pick daisies and create a hole towards the base of the stem (such as with fingernails or tying a knot ). The stem of the next flower can be threaded through until stopped by the head of the flower. By repeating this with many daisies, it is possible to build up long chains and to form them into simple bracelets and necklaces. Another popular method involves pressing the flower heads against each other to create a look similar to a caterpillar.
Where does the word "guirlande" come from?
From the French guirlande, itself from the Italian ghirlanda, a braid.
What are the flowers used in Hindu garlands?
In India, where flower garlands have an important and traditional role in every festival, Hindu deities are decorated with garlands made from different fragrant flowers (often jasmine) and leaves. Both fragrant and non-fragrant flowers and religiously-significant leaves are used to make garlands to worship Hindu deities. Some popular flowers include:
