--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So on Christmas morning I was up at five…" description: "\"“So on Christmas morning I was up at five o'clock, making the fire as bright as a furnace, baking minc'd pies and boiling plum puddings the size of Med..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/martine-bailey-22087_baking_so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five_1568210.jpg" --- # So on Christmas morning I was up at five o'clock, making… ![“So on Christmas morning I was up at five o'clock, making the fire as bright as a furnace, baking minc'd pies and boiling plum puddings the size of Medici cannonballs, and setting three sides of roast beef to turn on the spits. Soon I breathed again that steam that tells the soul it is Christmas…” quote by Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/martine-bailey-22087_baking_so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five_1568210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/martine-bailey-22087_baking_so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five_1568210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/martine-bailey-22087_baking_so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five_1568210.jpg) > ““So on Christmas morning I was up at five o'clock, making the fire as bright as a furnace, baking minc'd pies and boiling plum puddings the size of Medici cannonballs, and setting three sides of roast beef to turn on the spits. Soon I breathed again that steam that tells the soul it is Christmas, and all the year' work done, and time for feasting; the smell of oranges, sugarplums and cloves, all mingled with roasting meats.”” [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The vivid description captures the sensory overload and joy of holiday cooking, symbolizing abundance and celebration after a year of labor. **In simple terms:** Holiday cooking feels joyous and abundant. Key Takeaway Embrace festive traditions fully. Themes celebration tradition abundance sensory experience Mood warm nostalgic Type descriptive celebratory When to use this quote - family gatherings - holiday meals - seasonal cooking - community feasts Key Concepts culinary art ritual nostalgia Questions to Reflect On - How does sensory detail enhance memory of holidays? - What traditions bring you the most joy? A Different Perspective May become pressure of perfection hinder enjoyment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baking/) [Biddy-leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biddy-leigh/) [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Christmas morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-morning/) [Feasting Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feasting-smell-5896612/) [Mingled Roasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mingled-roasting-5896611/) [Roast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roast/) [Roast beef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roast-beef/) [Roasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roasting/) [Smells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smells/) [Sweets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweets/) [Work done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-done/) ## Related quotes > [“The whole roaring crowd was gathered in the long room to give my boar's head fulsome applause when it was carried aloft on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/the-whole-roaring-crowd-was-gathered-in-the-long-room-to-give-my-boar/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“Look, I fetched some Fat Hen for you.' Jem offered me a bunch of wilting greens. I reached for the plants, rubbed the leaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/look-i-fetched-some-fat-hen-for-you-jem-offered-me-a-bunch-of-wilting/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“Once inside the confectioners, she was spellbound by sugared fruits hung in garlands and glass bottles sparkling with morsels of sugar. While Loveday spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/once-inside-the-confectioners-she-was-spellbound-by-sugared-fruits/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“I wanted to try dainty Italian fare, and bought spicy Bologna sausage, pink papery hams, hard white bread, and chalky cheeses. I also bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/i-wanted-to-try-dainty-italian-fare-and-bought-spicy-bologna-sausage/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“Every cook knows it's a rare day when you have all the parts of the perfect dish. But that day back at Mawton I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/every-cook-knows-it-s-a-rare-day-when-you-have-all-the-parts-of-the/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“While Mr Loveday aired my lady's sheets, I set to scratching up a supper. With not even time to change from my own damp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/while-mr-loveday-aired-my-lady-s-sheets-i-set-to-scratching-up-a/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“The Cocoa-Nut Tree at Covent Garden? Why it's the finest confectioner in the capital and sells bonbons, macaroons, candied fruits, and ices,' I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/the-cocoa-nut-tree-at-covent-garden-why-it-s-the-finest-confectioner/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“Around me shone the kitchen I'd worked in each day: the copper pans hung neatly, the scratched wooden table and neat blue plates set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/around-me-shone-the-kitchen-i-d-worked-in-each-day-the-copper-pans/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“That baking day was the third day Mrs G had shut herself away in the stillroom, dosing herself with medicinal waters. As I rolled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/that-baking-day-was-the-third-day-mrs-g-had-shut-herself-away-in-the/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“So what are you after, eh? Side of beef? Some chops?' 'Aye, sir. Whatever you fancy.' He licked his lips and listed his favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/so-what-are-you-after-eh-side-of-beef-some-chops-aye-sir-whatever-you/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [All of us in society are supposed to believe that cruelty to animals is wrong and that it is a good thing to prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/all-of-us-in-society-are-supposed-to-believe-that-cruelty-to-animals/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [You know, sometimes I worry, you know, is comedy and my type of comedy going to get stale? Is it going to be so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/you-know-sometimes-i-worry-you-know-is-comedy-and-my-type-of-comedy/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [I love roasting because you can give it love, get it in the oven and go and play with the kids or whatever you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/i-love-roasting-because-you-can-give-it-love-get-it-in-the-oven-and/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [I don't know what rituals my kids will carry into adulthood, whether they'll grow up attached to homemade pizza on Friday nights, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/i-don-t-know-what-rituals-my-kids-will-carry-into-adulthood-whether/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [People are roasting each other at parties, at work events, around the fire. It's so fun. People are busting each other's chops, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/people-are-roasting-each-other-at-parties-at-work-events-around-the/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) ## More by Martine Bailey > [“Look, I fetched some Fat Hen for you.' Jem offered me a bunch of wilting greens. I reached for the plants, rubbed the leaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/look-i-fetched-some-fat-hen-for-you-jem-offered-me-a-bunch-of-wilting/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“Around me shone the kitchen I'd worked in each day: the copper pans hung neatly, the scratched wooden table and neat blue plates set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/around-me-shone-the-kitchen-i-d-worked-in-each-day-the-copper-pans/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“It was almost Christmas, and Renzo was preparing all the delicacies Florentines must eat at the festival: roast eels, goose, fancy cakes with marzipan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/it-was-almost-christmas-and-renzo-was-preparing-all-the-delicacies/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“Sal and Henry return with a gust of warm garden air and I settle down to create miniature roses from sugarpaste using tiny ivory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/sal-and-henry-return-with-a-gust-of-warm-garden-air-and-i-settle-down/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“There was a new smell in the air at Lyons, of sun-baked southern stuffs, of strong red vinegar, and spikes of rosemary. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/there-was-a-new-smell-in-the-air-at-lyons-of-sun-baked-southern/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“Signor Renzo's lodge stood on a grassy knoll near the crest of the hill. It was a modest place, just a low stone hut,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/signor-renzo-s-lodge-stood-on-a-grassy-knoll-near-the-crest-of-the/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“The Cocoa-Nut Tree at Covent Garden? Why it's the finest confectioner in the capital and sells bonbons, macaroons, candied fruits, and ices,' I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/the-cocoa-nut-tree-at-covent-garden-why-it-s-the-finest-confectioner/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“While Mr Loveday aired my lady's sheets, I set to scratching up a supper. With not even time to change from my own damp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/while-mr-loveday-aired-my-lady-s-sheets-i-set-to-scratching-up-a/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“On December the twenty-third, the park was hazy from clammy mists that muted and softened all color and distance. Michael had not set off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/on-december-the-twenty-third-the-park-was-hazy-from-clammy-mists-that/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“Every cook knows it's a rare day when you have all the parts of the perfect dish. But that day back at Mawton I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/every-cook-knows-it-s-a-rare-day-when-you-have-all-the-parts-of-the/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“I was thrown together with Florence, or 'Florawns' as she was called, a pert girl of nineteen who worked in our kitchen and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/i-was-thrown-together-with-florence-or-florawns-as-she-was-called-a/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“I'd give me two eyes for a slice of apple pie." She was brain-cracked, but spoke for them all. Then Tabby Jones joined in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/i-d-give-me-two-eyes-for-a-slice-of-apple-pie-she-was-brain-cracked/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“So what are you after, eh? Side of beef? Some chops?' 'Aye, sir. Whatever you fancy.' He licked his lips and listed his favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/so-what-are-you-after-eh-side-of-beef-some-chops-aye-sir-whatever-you/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“I continued my explorations in a cobbled yard overlooked by broken doors and cracked windows. Pushing open a swollen door into a storeroom, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/i-continued-my-explorations-in-a-cobbled-yard-overlooked-by-broken/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) > [“Outside, I shivered in a landscape of greys and silvers, the stone walls and cobbles looming pale in the wintry air. The only true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/outside-i-shivered-in-a-landscape-of-greys-and-silvers-the-stone/) [Martine Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) [Explore all 28 Martine Bailey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/) ## More Baking quotes > [I'm a fan of a big roast or a bolognese, but I also love baking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-lowe/i-m-a-fan-of-a-big-roast-or-a-bolognese-but-i-also-love-baking/) [Daisy Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-lowe/) > [Always my fallback is - I'm gonna move to a poor town and open a scone shop... Sometimes after some bad auditions I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rannells/always-my-fallback-is-i-m-gonna-move-to-a-poor-town-and-open-a-scone/) [Andrew Rannells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rannells/) > [Simple jewelry is best - bigger pieces get in the way when I'm baking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-tosi/simple-jewelry-is-best-bigger-pieces-get-in-the-way-when-i-m-baking/) [Christina Tosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-tosi/) > [The ordinary activities I find most compatible with contemplation are walking, baking bread, and doing laundry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/the-ordinary-activities-i-find-most-compatible-with-contemplation-are/) [Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/) > [I don't have a very good relationship with baking. I do bake sometimes, but my natural instinct is to just do what feels right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thu-tran/i-don-t-have-a-very-good-relationship-with-baking-i-do-bake-sometimes/) [Thu Tran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thu-tran/) > [“Baking, by contrast, was solving the same problem over and over again, because every time, the solution was consumed. I mean, really: chewed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/baking-by-contrast-was-solving-the-same-problem-over-and-over-again/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [Always bake in the center of the oven. A pan placed too close to the bottom of the oven will receive more heat radiating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/always-bake-in-the-center-of-the-oven-a-pan-placed-too-close-to-the/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [Pecans are not cheap, my hons. In fact, in the South, the street value of shelled pecans just before holiday baking season is roughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-rivenbark/pecans-are-not-cheap-my-hons-in-fact-in-the-south-the-street-value-of/) [Celia Rivenbark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-rivenbark/) > [“If you bake a cupcake, the world has one more cupcake. If you become a circus clown, the world has one more squirt of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-e-landsburg/if-you-bake-a-cupcake-the-world-has-one-more-cupcake-if-you-become-a/) [Steven E. Landsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-e-landsburg/) > [I like to take mustard baths. I combine 4 lbs Epsom salts, 3 oz mustard powder, 12 oz powdered milk, and 1/2 cup baking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-coughlin/i-like-to-take-mustard-baths-i-combine-4-lbs-epsom-salts-3-oz-mustard/) [Natalie Coughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-coughlin/) > [After 'Bake Off,' I got these book deals that were very much baking books. But the books I'm producing now like 'Perfect Plates in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whaite/after-bake-off-i-got-these-book-deals-that-were-very-much-baking/) [John Whaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whaite/) > [“It’s amazing how much easier it is to bake a cake when you’ve got an eternity to get it right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-walrath/it-s-amazing-how-much-easier-it-is-to-bake-a-cake-when-you-ve-got-an/) [Holly Walrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-walrath/) > [In my eyes, baking and pastry-making is like a science - all the measuring of quantities and temperatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/in-my-eyes-baking-and-pastry-making-is-like-a-science-all-the/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [“There are divisions between a culinary chef and a dessert chef, also called a pastry chef. At Zomick's are specializations within the pastry chef…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-ben-israel/there-are-divisions-between-a-culinary-chef-and-a-dessert-chef-also/) [Ron Ben-Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-ben-israel/) > [Picture your grandmother in Hell, baking pies... without an oven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/picture-your-grandmother-in-hell-baking-pies-without-an-oven/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) [Browse all 331 Baking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So on Christmas morning I was up at five o'clock, making the fire as bright as a furnace, baking minc'd pies and boiling plum puddings the size of Medici cannonballs, and setting three sides of roast beef to turn on the spits. Soon I breathed again that steam that tells the soul it is Christmas, and all the year' work done, and time for feasting; the smell of oranges, sugarplums and cloves, all mingled with roasting meats.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martine Bailey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five-o-clock-making-the-fire-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Baking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five-o-clock-making-the-fire-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/martine-bailey-22087_baking_so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five_1568210.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/martine-bailey-22087_baking_so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five_1568210.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/martine-bailey-22087_baking_so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five_1568210.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So on Christmas morning I was up at five o'clock, making the fire as bright as a furnace, baking minc'd pies…” — Martine Bailey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martine Bailey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-bailey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“So on Christmas morning I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five-o-clock-making-the-fire-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-bailey/so-on-christmas-morning-i-was-up-at-five-o-clock-making-the-fire-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```