Today I am custodian of two bubbling saucepans containing my Christmas puddings.
I love the process of preparing and steaming the puddings, from getting the dried fruit drunk on rum the night before, to measuring out and mixing all the ingredients in my granny's old pudding bowl.
It is a tradition in our family to make the puddings on the last Sunday before Advent, stir it up Sunday.
Since I was a little girl I watched and later helped my lovely granny make the Christmas puddings. She continued making them until she was ninety when the baton was passed on to me.
Granny passed away three years ago but I still love stir it up Sunday. It is a wonderful way to remember her.
The happy memories baking 'stirs up' please me no end, so for me it is stir it up Sunday in more ways than one.
My granny always insisted that all the family took a turn to stir the pudding whilst making a secret wish.
The pudding was always stirred from east to west to represent the journey that the three wise men made to Bethlehem and often had a coin hidden inside for wealth, health and happiness.
So the pudding making today and the delicious smell which is wafting through the house as the pudding steams means the festive season is firmly on its merry way. Oh sugar. I better get organised.
yummy. I have never made one! maybe I should!?
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely make one ... the longest bit is the steaming ... 6 hours ... one for a day indoors ... Bee xx
Deletewhat lovely way to remember your granny. I like the idea of the whole family giving it a stir and making a wish! a great tradition, maybe I should make one too..... Heather x
ReplyDeleteStir it up Sunday, ooh I love that, what a beautiful family tradition. I've never made a pud, always make a cake tho and everyone always has a stir for luck too.
ReplyDeleteVictoria xx
Thanks Victoria ... I haven't made a cake ... my mum-in-law makes a great one ... but the pudding is yummy ... have a lovely week ... Bee xx
DeleteThis is such a lovely post! Love that your granny used to have you all stir the pudding and make a wish. x
ReplyDeleteThanks Col ... it is a lovely tradition and it really evokes such happy memories ... I hope I am creating them for my little ones too ... Bee xx
DeleteOh Bee this is such a lovely post, my favourite kind - food, family and memories. Your pictures are perfect too. Thanks for posting this , have a bright and happy week jxx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your lovely words Jo ... wishing you a really wonderful week ... Bee xx
Deletehow lovely!! There must be something in the air because before reading this I've just put my fruit to soak in brandy over night! I love the idea of having everyone stir it and make a secret wish..I think I'll have to start a little riual of my own and involve the kids. Thanks for the inspiration! xx
ReplyDeleteHappy pudding making ... I use rum for the soaking ... it is a good tradition to make a wish ... everyone gets involved then ... have a lovely week ... Bee xx
DeleteWhat a lovely post Bee. What wonderful memories your granny left for you. I am sure your family tradition will be passed down for many years to come and it all looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Shari ... my granny was a lovely lady and I am proud to continue her traditions for my little ones ... Bee xx
DeleteHow very touching and lovely that you are keeping the tradition going. I had never had a Christmas pudding before moving here from Canada..we always had pumpkin pie for Christmas dessert. Though every year my Mom and I would make and decorate gingerbread men, I hope to keep that tradition going with my little one when she is a bit older.
ReplyDeleteOh Magie ... pumpkin pie sounds delicious and I love the gingerbread men idea ... these are all things the little ones will remember when they're older ... have a lovely week ... Bee xx
DeleteMy Mum used to make lovely Christmas puddings, I can almost smell them! :)
ReplyDeleteI know Ada ... smells definitely evoke memories ... have a great day ... Bee x
DeleteI love Christmas family traditions. Its one of the things I miss about not having an extended family around me. We have created some of our own traditions, though sometimes I find myself fighting a losing battle to get lad & his dad to take part in them!
ReplyDeleteYou might be surprised ... I think it is as we get older we like to revive traditions ... your little lad may be resurrecting some of your Christmas traditions in the years to come :) ... Bee xx
DeleteHello Bee,
ReplyDeleteLovely emotive post....steamed chocolate pudding brings my mother to mind.
I know it may seem like sacrilege but I hate christmas pudding and mince pies but I do remember my mother in her warm cosy kitchen doing the Christmas baking and being allowed to clean out the mixing bowl after use.....it was soo yummy! She always made her own christmas puddings and used to put a sixpence in the pud.
Sweet memories!
keep well
Amanda :-)
Hi Amanda ... glad I have reminded you of happy times ... I wasn't a fan of actually eating christmas pudding until recently either but I do enjoy a bit now ... my dad loves them and I think he loves that I have carried on his Mum's tradition ... have a lovely week ... Bee xx
DeleteLove your story - what a most perfect way to evoke memories of the moments you share with your loved ones. I'm not big on fruit cake/puddings (or mince pies actually!) but our family tradition is the Mama's trifle - Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without it.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your pud!
xx
We have a trifle here too ... it is actually my favourite too ... wishing you a lovely day ... Bee xx
DeleteWhat a lovely tradition. I've never made a Christmas pudding before, but you've got me thinking this would be a nice tradition to start.
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely give it a go ... it is a great way to create memories and a gorgeous smell throughout the house :) ... Bee xx
DeleteThat is such a wonderful tradition, and what a nice way to remember your Granny. To my shame, I have never made a Christmas pudding. Shocking, I know. The thought of steaming something for hours and hours fills me with panic. I always buy a posh one from Waitrose or M&S. x
ReplyDeleteOh Gillian ... you made me laugh ... I can't inagine you in a panic ... the posh ones are lovely too I'm sure ... Bee xx
DeleteAh Bee, such a lovely tradition - I am sure your gran would be very proud of you and such amazing kitchen organisation by the looks of those photos! I bet your puds will taste wonderful! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Suzie ... I do wonder what my Granny would say if she were here now ... I hope she would be pleased that I bother :) ... Bee xx
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