Stir up Sunday is the traditional day for making the classic British Christmas pudding. It usually falls on the last Sunday before the start of Advent. In 2026 stir up Sunday is on 22nd November.
What Is Stir Up Sunday?
Stir up Sunday is the day where it is traditional to make a British Christmas Pudding in preparation for Christmas. On stir up Sunday the whole family gathers to make the Christmas pudding. Each person takes it in turn to stir the pudding (moving clockwise) and make a wish.
You might think that the name comes from the act of stirring the pudding but it actually comes from the Book of Common Prayer. The prayer for that Sunday starts ‘Stir up, we beseech thee…’ and it is thought that hearing that passage in church would remind people to go home and make the pudding.
What Is Christmas Pudding?
Christmas pudding is a rich and dark steamed pudding made with dried fruits and spices. It has a high alcohol content and is served at Christmas. It should be noted that pudding in the UK can be used to describe any dessert but also more specifically a steamed cake like dessert such as this one.
Why Is Christmas Pudding Made So Early?
It is made up to five weeks before Christmas to allow for the flavours to mature. It is safe to make so far ahead due to the high alcohol content which preserves it.
What Other Traditions Are There With Christmas Pudding?
Another Christmas pudding related tradition is putting charms inside the pudding. When it is cooked and cut open, the person who gets the charm is said to be lucky. Different charms have different meanings. For example, a ring is marriage and a coins is wealth.
The pudding is usually topped with a sprig of holly (fake is best due to the poisonous nature of holly berries). Brandy is poured of the cooked pudding when it is ready to serve and it is set alight to create a beautiful blue flame.
It is important to be said that only around 4% of UK adults participate in stir up Sunday these days and many have not even heard of the tradition. It is also important to note the declining popularity of the Christmas pudding, possibly due to a number of factors including it seeming old fashioned, not catering to modern tastes and the availability of many other Christmas desserts.
Want To Try Some Christmas Baking?
Here are my favourite Christmas recipes –