Stir-up Sunday

Christmas pudding

Stir-up Sunday is a traditional day in the United Kingdom and Ireland for making Christmas pudding. It falls on the last Sunday before the season of Advent begins, which is five weeks before Christmas Day.

History

The name "Stir-up Sunday" comes from the opening words of the collect for the day in the Book of Common Prayer of 1549: "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people". This prayer was read in churches on the last Sunday before Advent, and it reminded people that it was time to start preparing their Christmas puddings.

Traditions

On Stir-up Sunday, families gather together in the kitchen of their homes to mix and steam the Christmas pudding. Parents teach their children how to mix ingredients for the pudding. Everyone takes a turn to stir the pudding mix and make a wish while doing so. It is also traditional to add coins or trinkets to the pudding mix, which are believed to bring luck to the person who finds them.

Ingredients

The traditional ingredients for a Christmas pudding include dried fruit, suet, breadcrumbs, flour, sugar, spices, eggs, and alcohol such as brandy or rum. The mixture is then steamed for several hours and stored until Christmas Day.

Modern Observance

While the tradition of Stir-up Sunday is not as widely observed as it once was, it remains a cherished custom for many families. Some modern recipes have adapted to include vegetarian or vegan alternatives to suet and other ingredients.

See also

• Christmas pudding
• Advent
• Book of Common Prayer
• Christmas traditions

External links

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