STIR UP SUNDAY: What is it – and why is it celebrated?

The long-established baking tradition called “Stir up Sunday” falls this weekend. It’s the day when wishes are said to come true, so grab the wooden spoon and get mixing!

By ANNA USHER

The last Sunday before Advent is “Stir up Sunday”, a time-honoured family ritual for many, who gather to prepare the Christmas pudding. This year, it falls on November 21.

Advent begins four Sundays before Santa’s arrival, and the tradition of “Stir-up Sunday” is fascinating, even if you’re not religious.

What is Stir-up Sunday?

Stir-up Sunday harks back to the Victorian era. On Stir-up Sunday, families gather in their kitchen to mix and steam Christmas pudding.
Christmas puddings are made well ahead of Christmas Day to give them time to mature, which also allows Nan’s brandy to really saturate the pudding!

Stir-up traditions

Christmas pudding traditionally contains 13 ingredients, to represent Jesus and his disciples.

The ingredients include raisins, currants, suet, brown sugar, breadcrumbs, citron, lemon peel, orange peel, flour, mixed spices, eggs, milk, and brandy/sherry.

The pudding is stirred (while making a wish) by each member of the family from East to West, to remember the Wise Men who visited Jesus in the Nativity story.

The customary garnish of holly represents the crown of thorns.

Adding coins and charms to the pudding is said to bring you luck if you find them on Christmas Day. In old times, the lucky charms were a silver coin for wealth, a wishbone for luck, a thimble for thrift, a ring for marriage, and an anchor for safe harbour.

Where does Christmas Pudding come from?

The Christmas pudding originated in the 14th Century as porridge type concoction, originally known as “frumenty”, which bears little resemblance to the dessert we know today.

Originally, it was made with hulled wheat, boiled in milk, seasoned with cinnamon and coloured with saffron. It was associated with meatless days, lent and advent and was often served as a plain dish. But there are a variety of recipes which included additions such as beef, mutton, raisins, currants, prunes, wines and spices.

In the 17th-century changes to the recipe were made. It was thickened with eggs, breadcrumbs, dried fruit and beer or spirits were added – and came to resemble something a bit more like a sweet pudding. However, it was the Victorians who fine-tuned the recipe into the Christmas pudding many of us enjoy today.