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Stir-Up Sunday

Get your aprons ready for Stir-Up Sunday! Join the time-honored tradition of making your Christmas pudding in anticipation of the holiday season.

Sunday

November 2026

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATELast Sunday before Advent (Late November)

OBSERVED INUnited Kingdom

CATEGORYFood

SUBCATEGORYBaking

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Roll up your sleeves and gather your ingredients for Stir-Up Sunday, happening this year on November 24! This sweet tradition dates back to Victorian times and signals the perfect time to start preparing the famous dessert--Christmas pudding. It was traditionally a family event, where everyone would get a turn to stir the huge pot while making a wish. The name "Stir-Up Sunday" is believed to have got its name from the opening words of the Book of Common Prayer collect for the day which begins, 'Stir-up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people.' This pun was taken rather literally, and thus began a heartfelt tradition that has lasted generations. Get ready to stir, wish and embrace the warmth of the holiday season!

TIMELINE

Stir-Up Sunday Timeline

Book of Common Prayer

The "Stir-up" phrase originates from the Book of Common Prayer. This prayer book, first published in 1549 for the Church of England, included the phrase, "Stir-up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people."

Victorian Era Tradition

During Queen Victoria's reign, Stir-Up Sunday became a popular household tradition for making Christmas pudding in anticipation of the holiday season.

Modern Christmas Pudding Recipe

Eliza Acton's "The English Bread Book" in 1857 updated and modernized Stir-Up Sunday's Christmas pudding recipe which was more widely adopted by 1926.

Decline and Revival

Although Stir-Up Sunday saw a decline in the mid-20th century, by the late 1950s and 1960s there was a revival of this festive tradition in many households.

21st Century Celebration

Stir-Up Sunday continues to be celebrated around the world, with families coming together to stir and make wishes on the Christmas pudding.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate Stir-Up Sunday

Host a Stir-Up Sunday party

Invite family and friends over to partake in the Stir-Up Sunday tradition. You can all take turns stirring the Christmas pudding mixture and making a wish. You could even make it a potluck and have everyone bring a different ingredient for the pudding.

CREATE

Create your own twist on the traditional recipe

Have fun experimenting with the traditional Christmas pudding recipe by adding ingredients that you love. Maybe you want to add a bit of chilli for a spicy kick, or maybe incorporate some exotic fruits. Get creative with it!

MAKE

Make extra pudding for gifts

Christmas pudding makes for a great holiday gift. Make some extra pudding and package it nicely in decorative jars to give to your neighbours, coworkers and friends.

BAKE

Bake other Christmas sweets

In addition to making Christmas pudding on Stir-Up Sunday, you could spend the day baking other Christmas treats like cookies, gingerbread, or mince pies. This way you can stock up your holiday dessert table early.

DOCUMENT

Document the process

Don’t forget to document the fun. Record videos, take photos and share your Stir-Up Sunday traditions on your social platforms. This will not only create memories for you but inspire others to carry on with this sweet tradition.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love Stir-Up Sunday

Creates lasting memories and encourages togetherness

The age-old practice of stirring the pot together while making a wish encourages family and friends to gather and share in the joy of cooking. Documenting the process and sharing the moments online not only creates personal memories, but also inspires others to keep this heartwarming tradition alive.

Opportunity to revive an old tradition

Stir-Up Sunday ties us back to Victorian times, making it an opportunity to relive and carry forward a time-honored tradition. It connects generations and creates a sense of nostalgia while preparing Christmas pudding for the holiday season.

Encourages creativity in the kitchen

Stir-Up Sunday isn't just about following an old recipe - it's also about getting innovative! The tradition encourages us to add our unique touch to the Christmas pudding recipe, experimenting with flavors that we love, making it a fun filled culinary adventure.