How did fruit cake become the traditional cake of Christmas in the United States?

It seems like every year someone makes or buys a fruit cake for Christmas- even when most people don't like it. My family cannot stand fruit cake, yet every year my brother always makes one. He says, "It's all about tradition." So, how did this tradition come to be?

How did fruit cake become the traditional cake of Christmas in the United States?
"In the 18th century, Europeans were baking fruitcakes using nuts from the harvest for good luck in the following year. The cake was saved and eaten before the harvest of the next year, so it was about a year old when eaten. Fruitcakes proliferated until a law restricted them to Christmas, weddings, and a few other holidays because they were considered "sinfully" rich."



That explains it all!
Reply:In the old days they had no fruit sometimes except dried fruit.
Reply:There are plenty of fruitcAKE BASHERS OUT THERE but I like a good fruitcake made only with cherries and pecans, it is delicious!
Reply:It comes from the UK.



I like a good fruitcake...there just aren't many.