Christmas A to Z Letter F

December 4, 2025

Welcome Back to Christmas A to Z
F …is for Fudge, Frankincense and Father Christmas
Fudge

I remember having fudge every Christmas as a child. The creaminess of the candy was so delicious. My Mother made many different varieties from year to year, depending on the recipe she wanted to try. We had dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, peanut butter…you name it, we probably tried it. Do you enjoy your fudge with or without nuts? I love the nuts inside.

Easy Fudge Recipe

From The Maplewood Road Website

Ingredients

3 cups chocolate chips
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons salted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions

How to make fudge on a stove

In a pan over low heat, mix together chocolate chips, butter, vanilla extract, salt, and sweetened condensed milk. Stir continuously, making sure to reach the bottom and edges of the pan.
Over about 5 minutes, the chocolate chips will gradually melt and all the ingredients will come together. Keep stirring until the entire mixture is smooth and glossy.
Remove pan from heat and stir in walnuts.
Pour warm fudge into prepared baking dish and spread to edges in an even layer.
Refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting into squares. If you'd like a little salt on top (a flaky sea salt like Maldon works best), sprinkle that over once the fudge has cooled a little (after about 30 minutes to 1 hour of chilling).

How to make fudge in a microwave

In a microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips, butter, vanilla extract, salt, and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring well each time, until the fudge is smooth and glossy (this will take about 6 microwave cycles, give or take).
Remove pan from heat and stir in walnuts.
Pour warm fudge into prepared baking dish and spread to edges in an even layer.
Refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting into squares. If you'd like a little salt on top (a flaky sea salt like Maldon works best), sprinkle that over once the fudge has cooled a little (after about 30 minutes to 1 hour of chilling).

Notes

Fun, delicious fudge additions

Different chocolate chips - If you're a fan of white chocolate, swap out the chocolate chips for white chocolate instead.
Nuts - In this recipe, I used walnuts because I love their flavor and crunch. But you can add any nuts that you enjoy...pecans, pistachios, cashews...go crazy!
Chocolate & Peanut Butter Fudge - Once the fudge has finished cooking, swirl in some peanut butter for a classic combination.
Flavor extracts - Try experimenting with different extracts besides vanilla: Almond or peppermint, for example.
Dried fruits - Once the fudge has finished cooking, stir in some dried fruits, like cranberries or dates.

Storage: Fudge will stay good on the countertop in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. In the fridge it will last for at least a month, and in the freezer for up to three months!

Frankincense

We hear the story of the Kings bringing baby Jesus Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. But, just what are Frankincense and Myrrh? After some research I discovered that both frankincense and myrrh start as a resinous sap inside a special family of trees that grow almost exclusively in the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula.

At certain times of year the trees are cut with special knives, and the sap oozes out. Once the sap has dried in the sun, it is ready to be used. Harvested frankincense and myrrh are burned as incense because of their pleasing aromas, but historically they have a number of other uses as well.

Frankincense, which was often burned, symbolized prayer rising to the heavens like smoke, while myrrh, which was often used for burials, symbolized death. Accordingly, a mixture of wine and myrrh would be offered to Jesus during his crucifixion.

Father Christmas

I have always wondered about the various names of the jolly old fellow named Santa. Depending on what country you are in, his name changes.

Great Britain

Father Christmas is the traditional British name for a figure associated with Christmas, a forerunner of Santa Claus.

Father Christmas was originally part of an old English midwinter festival, normally dressed in green, a sign of the returning spring. He was known as ‘Sir Christmas’, ‘Old Father Christmas’ or ‘Old Winter’.

In this earliest form, Father Christmas was not the bringer of gifts for small children, nor did he come down the chimney. He simply wandered around from home to home, knocking on doors and feasting with families before moving on to the next house. The Ghost of Christmas Present in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in 1843, is based on Father Christmas. He is described as a large man with a red beard and fur- lined green robe. Images of Father Christmas dressed in red started appearing on Christmas cards in the late Victorian times.

Germany

Santa Claus or Father Christmas (der Weihnachtsmann) brings the presents on December 24th. You might also write a letter to Weihnachtsmann in other parts of Germany. December 6th is St. Nicholas' Day and "der Nikolaus" brings some small gifts, such as sweets and chocolate, to the children.

France

Père Noël "Father Christmas", sometimes called Papa Noël ("Daddy Christmas"), is a legendary gift-bringer at Christmas in France and other French-speaking areas. On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. In the morning they also find that sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have been hung on the tree

Italy

Babbo Natale, Italy’s version of Santa Claus, is becoming more popular and gift giving on Christmas day is becoming more common. La Befana, the old woman who delivers gifts on Epiphany, January 6, is still the more popular Italian Christmas figure. Babbo Natale, or Father Christmas is gaining popularity in Italy.