QWhy does Marley have his chin in a sling?
ABack in Dickens' time, undertakers would tie a bandage under the chin to keep the mouth from springing open. A dead person's jaw will hang open after a while because the muscles do not hold tension and the tongue swells forcing the jaw wide open. Nowadays, undertakers will sew or wire the mouth shut for the same reason.
QWhat kind of 'pudding' was Mrs Cratchit making?
ANon-Brits often ask that question when Mrs Cratchit pulls a cheesecloth wrapped 'pudding' out of a pot of boiling water and then sets it aflame. To the English, however, Christmas or plum pudding has been a traditional favorite in Christmas dinners since medieval times. More like a fruitcake spiked with brandy, wine, or cognac, plum pudding should be made weeks, months, or even a year in advance in order to let it cure. A recipe for English plum pudding can be found here.
QA Note Regarding Spoilers
AThe following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.
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