Stir-up Sunday: mix it up

For those who don’t know what it is, here's our comprehensive guide to Christmas Puddings...

Causing a stir

For families across the country, Stir-up Sunday is a tradition which marks the start of the Christmas season. Falling on the last Sunday before Advent, the occasion is connected to a bible passage which would be read to churchgoers: “Stir up; we beseech thee, O Lord”.

Suitably enthused, the congregation would go home, don aprons and stir up their Christmas pudding. By making it so far in advance, the flavours are allowed to intensify, ready to wow guests on Christmas Day.

Make a wish

It’s traditional for every member of the family to make a wish and take a turn at stirring the pudding mixture once all the ingredients are incorporated. As long as the wish isn’t shared with anyone, tradition dictates that it should come true, so it’s a good time to get those extravagant Christmas present requests in!

Penny for ‘em

Watch your teeth, because it used to be common practice to include small coins in the mixture, to be kept by the person who found them. This practice was supposed to bring wealth to the finder in the coming year, (if they avoided a trip to A&E).

Christmas porridge

An early version of the dish was said to be of a porridge-like consistency and include fruit, vegetables, beef and mutton.

Psst... if Christmas pudding isn't your thing, you could try our recipe for a clementine and ginger pudding on page 11 of our members’ magazine, available to pick up in your local Lincolnshire Co-op food store now.