Stir-up Sunday

Stir-up Sunday is the Sunday before Advent Sunday, traditionally set aside for preparing the Christmas pudding. The date changes each year, but the timing gives the pudding several weeks to mature before Christmas. Families traditionally gather to mix the ingredients, with each person taking a turn to stir.

The name comes not from cooking but from the opening words of the collect for the day in the Book of Common Prayer: “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people.” The religious observance later became associated with pudding-making, particularly during the Victorian era, when families prepared, steamed, and stored their puddings ahead of Christmas. Some traditions call for stirring from east to west in honor of the Magi and making a wish while stirring. Puddings were also sometimes made with 13 ingredients, representing Jesus and his disciples, or with charms such as a silver coin said to bring good fortune to whoever found it. Historic UK explains the holiday’s connection to the prayer and Christmas pudding.

How to Observe Stir-up Sunday

Celebrate by gathering family or friends to prepare a Christmas pudding. Let everyone take a turn stirring the mixture and, if you like, make a wish while stirring from east to west. You can also learn about the collect that gave Stir-up Sunday its name, or prepare another fruit-based festive treat such as Christmas cake or mincemeat. If adding a charm, take care to avoid placing anything that could injure someone’s teeth in the pudding.

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