Christmas Puddings Traditions

Many people believe the Christmas pudding symbolises different things. Below are some of the most well known traditions

13 ingredients

Many people believe that a Christmas pudding should contain 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples. Each person in the family should then take it turns to stir the mixture from East to West to honour the 3 kings who followed the North Star on Christmas Eve.

Brandy

It is known that you light the brandy on a Christmas Pudding and the brandy flame represents Christ’s passion.

Holly

A holly leaf represents Jesus‘ Crown of Thorns.

Coins

Some families add coins to the pudding for luck. Everyone then stirs the pudding and makes a wish. Those who get the coins in their serving get wealth, health, happiness, and their wish will come true. Some people even add gold rings to the mix to indicate the finder will get married in the coming year. A tradition that died out, due to its depressing nature, was the addition of thimbles or buttons to the pudding. This signaled that the finder would remain a spinster or bachelor forever.