Stir-up Sunday – – UK Culture – Online English Lessons

November 5, 2011 By Angela Boothroyd

The Christmas pudding is an important part of the Christmas Day celebrations in the UK.

Christmas pudding is a round, rich and heavy pudding made from fruit, eggs, sugar, breadcrumbs, suet, spices, and alcohol such as brandy or rum. Many families have their favourite pudding recipe, which is often passed down through generations of family members.

Stir-up Sunday is traditionally the day for making your Christmas pudding; giving it a month to mature before eating it on Christmas day. Stir-up Sunday is on the 25th November in 2012.

According to tradition, everyone in the family (especially the children) takes a turn to stir the pudding and makes a wish while stirring. Traditionally, the pudding should be stirred from east to west in honour of the three Kings who travelled from the East to see Jesus; and it should also have 13 ingredients to represent Christ and his disciples.

It used to be common for people to put a coin in their Christmas pudding. This was supposed to bring wealth in the coming year to the person who found it.

Christmas puddings are popular here in the UK, but many people now buy their puddings from their local supermarket.

The Great Christmas Pudding Race

The 32nd Great Christmas Pudding Race takes place on 1st December 2012 in Covent Garden Market, London. The event raises money for Cancer Research UK.

Teams of people – usually in fancy dress – run a race around an obstacle course, whilst carrying a Christmas pudding on a tray. 

If you celebrate Christmas, what special traditions do you have?

Do you eat Christmas pudding?