Holiday Inn Kolkata Airport held its annual Cake Mixing Ceremony with its guests to celebrate the excitement and anticipation of the month.

Originating in 17th-century England, the Cake Mixing Ceremony signifies good fortune, prosperity, and unity and ushers in holiday celebrations. This Western European custom originated in medieval England, where Christmas desserts made with fruit, such as fruitcakes and plum puddings, were blended in late November to develop flavors and required group participation. Fruits steeped in rum for months in the Caribbean and becoming a well-liked pre-Christmas custom in India are just two examples of how the custom spread throughout the Caribbean, North America, and Asia as the British Empire grew.

The season’s first cake-mixing ceremony in the city was attended by Mr. Kibu Vicuna, Coach Diamond FC, Mr. Raja Sadhukhan, Principal, IHM, Mrs. Sonali Sen, Principal, DPS Newtown; Mrs. Sarbani Das, Owner, Gandhi Academy of Management Studies, Mr. Budhaditya Paul, Principal, BNG, Mr. Subhas De, Principal, ISHM, Mr. Tapojit Sur Roy from Bandhan Bank, MsWangmo Lepcha, Station Manager, Druk Air & Ms. Anushila Chaturvedi from AOC along with Senior Officials and Chef’s team from the Hotel.

All guests were guaranteed an engaging and dynamic experience thanks to the chef and his staff. A liberal splash of fruit liquids and flavored syrups filled the lobby with a rich, festive perfume as the ceremony began with the mixing of nuts, raisins, almonds, figs, prunes, spices, wine, and other customary components.

After the ceremony, the combined components were tightly packed in airtight containers to develop until Christmas, when they would be cooked into delectable Christmas cakes by adding them to the cake batter.

Priyanka Dutta