Disclosure: This blog post was commissioned by The Royal Mint to promote the tradition of Stir-Up Sunday. I was compensated for the cost of ingredients and my time, however all opinions are my own
Today I'm getting into the mood for Christmas here on the blog with a family recipe - my Gran's traditional Christmas pudding recipe!
Don't worry, I know it's early and I promise it won't be wall-to-wall Christmas from here until the big day, but this classic Christmas recipe needs to be shared with you in advance of Stir-Up Sunday, which falls on the last Sunday before Advent.
Last year, I shared a gorgeous Christmas Pudding recipe from The Royal Mint, maker of the UK’s circulating and commemorative coins, along with lots of interesting facts about Stir-Up Sunday. You can see us in action making last year's The Royal Mint Christmas pudding in our video (if it doesn't load for you, click here to watch it on YouTube.
This year I'm sharing a different Christmas pudding recipe - this is our very own family recipe passed down from my Gran. Sadly my Gran is no longer with us, but my Mum has been faithfully following her recipe (with a few tiny tweaks) for as long as I can remember, and this year she passed it on to me to try.
There's something really special about following a recipe that has been passed down like this - while I was measuring, preparing and weighing out ingredients I could almost see my Mum and my Gran going through the same lovely routine every year in preparation for a happy family Christmas, and maybe their mothers and grandmothers before them.
Traditions tie us to those that have gone before and can be such a strong link to the past, so I think it's really important for us to pass traditions on to our children for them to pass on in their turn too.
Adding a Royal Mint six pence to your Christmas pudding is another great Christmas tradition, said to bring good luck in the year ahead. Last year we received our very own six pence from the Royal Mint which allowed our family to join in with this lovely tradition.
I hunted down the same six pence to add to our Christmas pudding mix this year too and will do the same every year in the future, passing the six pence on to one of my children when the time comes for them to make their own. Here's my family Christmas pudding recipe to go with it!
Gran's Traditional Christmas Pudding
Ingredients (fills 2 x 1.2L pudding bowls):
- 400g white crusty loaf
- 90g carrots
- 1 large cooking apple
- 175g dates or prunes*
- 60g almonds
- 225g raisins
- 225g sultanas
- 225g currants
- 225g suet
- 225g soft brown sugar
- 225g self raising flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- pinch salt
- 3 large eggs
- grated rind and juice ½ large lemon
- 1 ½ tbs brandy
- 1 ½ tbs sherry
- ¼ pint (150 ml) strong dark ale e.g. Guinness + extra if needed
- lard, for greasing
Method:
Start by preparing your ingredients. Preheat the oven to 200°C (Gas mark 6/390°F). Roughly slice up the loaf and place the slices on a large baking tray. Pop into the oven and bake until toasted and brown all over - timings will vary according to how fresh the bread is.
Once toasted, take the bread out of the oven and leave to cool. Once cool, weigh out the slices to 225g - you may have a little extra. Whizz up 225g of the toasted bread into bread crumbs using a food processor or blender. Tip into a very large bowl (I used a tall sided stock pot for mixing without too much mess!).
Prepare the carrot and cooking apple. The original recipe called for 'minced' carrot and cooking apple, but I whizzed them up in my Vitamix until finely chopped - you could also grate them if you don't have access to a food processor. Add the minced carrot and apple to the bowl with the bread crumbs.
Chop the dates or prunes and almonds and add them to the bowl. You could also throw them in the food processor to quickly chop them as you have it out already.
Add the rest of the dry ingredients; raisins, sultanas, currants, suet, soft brown sugar, self raising flour, baking powder, ground nutmeg, mixed spice, ground ginger, cinnamon and salt to the bowl. Stir well to combine.
Break the eggs and add to the bowl. Zest and juice the lemon and add to the bowl. Add the brandy and sherry and stir the mixture well to combine.
Add 150ml of the dark ale to the mixture and stir well. If the mixture is too dry or stiff, add a little more ale until the pudding mixture has a moist consistency.
Cover the bowl and leave for 24 hours to mature. After 24 hours, it will be ready to basin up. You may need to add a little more ale at this point if the mixture is too dry, so keep some on stand by just in case.
Before putting the mixture into basins, call the family together and ask every member of the family to stir the pudding mixture, each making a special Christmas wish for the year ahead as they do so. Add the silver six pence to the mix and stir again until hidden**.
Once the children are out of sight, I must admit I retrieve the six pence and hide it away until Christmas rather than bake it in the pudding. I then hide it on one of the bowls to be covered by a slice of pudding when serving (see notes below!).
To prepare the basins:
- Use 2 x 1.5L basins.
- Grease with lard. Place a small disc of non-stick paper at bottom of each basin.
- Fill to approx 1 inch (2.5 cms) below the top.
- Put a greased circle of non-stick paper (the size of the top of the basin) over the pudding.
- Cut a large square of greaseproof paper to go over whole of the basin. Put a fold into the paper to allow room for steam to expand (see photo below).
- Put a pudding cloth or a square of tin foil on top of this.
- Tie round with string and then tie ends of pudding cloth, trimming greaseproof paper neatly. If you are using tin foil rather than a pudding cloth, tie a string handle to the rest of the string for ease of lifting the bowl when steaming (see photo below)
If you prefer to use the plastic boil-able pudding basins, follow above up to bullet 5. Then push on lid tightly and trim the greaseproof paper.
The puddings will now need to be steamed for 6 hours. To steam your Christmas puddings, place a trivet, upturned saucer or heat safe ramekin in the bottom of a large stock pot (to keep the pudding basin away from direct contact with the base of the pan). Fill with boiling water to about ⅛th full. Place a pudding in the stock pot and check that the water level is to around half-way up the side of the pudding basin.
Put on the lid and steam at a gentle simmer for 6 hours. Keep an eye on the water to make sure that the pan doesn’t boil dry and add more water from the kettle to keep it topped up if needed.
Alternatively, you can also steam your Christmas puddings in a slow cooker - as above, keep the pudding basin away from direct contact with the base of the pan with a trivet, saucer or ramekin, fill with water to half-way up the side of the pudding basin, place the lid on tightly and steam on high for 8 hours (great for steaming overnight!).
Or you could use the oven method to steam them; Preheat the oven to 160°C (Gas mark 3/320°F). Stand the pudding basin(s) in a deep roasting tin, fill with hot water to approx. half way up the puddings(s). Cover the whole roasting tin with a tent of tin foil and cook for 6 hours.
Once steamed, cool the puddings then store them in a cool dry cupboard for up to two months until needed.
On Christmas Day, steam the pudding for a further 1 ½ hours before turning out onto a plate. Dust with icing sugar and a sprig of holly to decorate, or alternatively, splash over brandy and light before serving. Our family tradition is to turn off all the lights in the house so that we can enjoy the full effect of our fiery Christmas pudding!
NOTES: *The original recipe called for dates, but due to personal preference (and a lifelong hatred of dates!) my mum always replaced them with prunes, so that's what I used too.
We don't drink sherry and I didn't want to buy a full bottle just for this recipe, so I skipped the sherry and used double the amount of brandy instead.
For more delicious and fun food ideas for the festive season, check out the Christmas Food section here on the Eats Amazing blog or pop over and follow my Christmas Pinterest boards for lots more fun ideas from around the web; Christmas, Cute Christmas Food Ideas and Healthy Christmas Food.
What's your favourite Christmas tradition?
Grace
**IMPORTANT - please read: Obviously, due to size, putting a coin in a pudding might cause a risk of choking. And while we might all remember stirring a 2p or 20p piece in our puddings as children, modern knowledge of health and safety might change our thinking towards it, particularly if the coins aren’t pure silver, or have not been sterilised. As such, we recommend that you do not bake your coin into the pudding or when reheating. Instead, we recommend that coins should be placed into the pudding just prior to serving, with the slices then dished out at random to give someone the chance to find it. Alternatively, simply pop the sixpence in its pouch and hide it under one of the table settings before everyone sits down to dinner.
If you do add anything like coins or charms to your pudding, sterilise them first in boiling water. Make sure you choose items large enough to be noticed, or wrap them tightly in a ball of tin foil, and tell everyone to look out for them. This serves two purposes: it will increase the fun, and it counts as a word to the wise, so that Christmas dinner doesn’t close with people accidentally swallowing the coin or breaking teeth!
Gran's Traditional Christmas Pudding
Ingredients
- 400 g white crusty loaf
- 90 g carrots
- 1 large cooking apple
- 175 g dates or prunes*
- 60 g almonds
- 225 g raisins
- 225 g sultanas
- 225 g currants
- 225 g suet
- 225 g soft brown sugar
- 225 g self raising flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- pinch salt
- 3 large eggs
- grated rind and juice ½ large lemon
- 1 ½ tbs brandy
- 1 ½ tbs sherry
- ¼ pint (150 ml) strong dark ale e.g. Guinness + extra if needed
- lard, for greasing
Instructions
- Start by preparing your ingredients. Preheat the oven to 200°C (Gas mark 6/390°F). Roughly slice up the loaf and place the slices on a large baking tray. Pop into the oven and bake until toasted and brown all over – timings will vary according to how fresh the bread is.
- Once toasted, take the bread out of the oven and leave to cool. Once cool, weigh out the slices to 225g – you may have a little extra. Whizz up 225g of the toasted bread into bread crumbs using a food processor or blender. Tip into a very large bowl (I used a tall sided stock pot for mixing without too much mess!).
- Prepare the carrot and cooking apple. The original recipe called for ‘minced’ carrot and cooking apple, but I whizzed them up in my Vitamix until finely chopped – you could also grate them if you don’t have access to a food processor. Add the minced carrot and apple to the bowl with the bread crumbs.
- Chop the dates or prunes and almonds and add them to the bowl. You could also throw them in the food processor to quickly chop them as you have it out already.
- Add the rest of the dry ingredients; raisins, sultanas, currants, suet, soft brown sugar, self raising flour, baking powder, ground nutmeg, mixed spice, ground ginger, cinnamon and salt to the bowl. Stir well to combine.
- Break the eggs and add to the bowl. Zest and juice the lemon and add to the bowl. Add the brandy and sherry and stir the mixture well to combine.
- Add 150ml of the dark ale to the mixture and stir well. If the mixture is too dry or stiff, add a little more ale until the pudding mixture has a moist consistency.
- Cover the bowl and leave for 24 hours to mature. After 24 hours, it will be ready to basin up. You may need to add a little more ale at this point if the mixture is too dry, so keep some on stand by just in case.
- Before putting the mixture into basins, call the family together and ask every member of the family to stir the pudding mixture, each making a special Christmas wish for the year ahead as they do so. Add the silver six pence to the mix and stir again until hidden**. Once the children are out of sight, I must admit I retrieve the six pence and hide it away until Christmas rather than bake it in the pudding. I then hide it on one of the bowls to be covered by a slice of pudding when serving (see notes below!).
- Tradition of adding a silver sixpence to your Chistmas Pudding Mix - with traditional Christmas Pudding Recipe
To prepare the basins:
- Use 2 x 1.5L basins. Grease with lard. Place a small disc of non-stick paper at bottom of each basin.
- Fill with Christmas pudding mixture to approx 1 inch (2.5 cms) below the top. Put a greased circle of non-stick paper (the size of the top of the basin) over the pudding.
- Cut a large square of greaseproof paper to go over whole of the basin. Put a fold into the paper to allow room for steam to expand (see photo). Put a pudding cloth or a square of tin foil on top of this.
- Tie round with string and then tie ends of pudding cloth, trimming greaseproof paper neatly. If you are using tin foil rather than a pudding cloth, tie a string handle to the rest of the string for ease of lifting the bowl when steaming (see photo below)
- If you prefer to use the plastic boil-able pudding basins, follow above up to topping with the folded paper then push on lid tightly and trim the greaseproof paper.
- The puddings will now need to be steamed for 6 hours. To steam your Christmas puddings, place a trivet, upturned saucer or heat safe ramekin in the bottom of a large stock pot (to keep the pudding basin away from direct contact with the base of the pan). Fill with boiling water to about ⅛th full. Place a pudding in the stock pot and check that the water level is to around half-way up the side of the pudding basin.
- Put on the lid and steam at a gentle simmer for 6 hours. Keep an eye on the water to make sure that the pan doesn’t boil dry and add more water from the kettle to keep it topped up if needed.
- Alternatively, you can also steam your Christmas puddings in a slow cooker – as above, keep the pudding basin away from direct contact with the base of the pan with a trivet, saucer or ramekin, fill with water to half-way up the side of the pudding basin, place the lid on tightly and steam on high for 8 hours (great for steaming overnight!).
- Or you could use the oven method to steam them; Preheat the oven to 160°C (Gas mark 3/320°F). Stand the pudding basin(s) in a deep roasting tin, fill with hot water to approx. half way up the puddings(s). Cover the whole roasting tin with a tent of tin foil and cook for 6 hours.
- Once steamed, cool the puddings then store them in a cool dry cupboard for up to two months until needed.
- On Christmas Day, steam the pudding for a further 1 ½ hours before turning out onto a plate. Dust with icing sugar and a sprig of holly to decorate, or alternatively, splash over brandy and light before serving. Our family tradition is to turn off all the lights in the house so that we can enjoy the full effect of our fiery Christmas pudding!
Notes
Love this recipe idea? Why not save it to Pinterest so you can easily find it again!
Kayleigh Jayne Reddish says
I will have to try this for my dad hes loves christmas pudding!!!!
Steve S says
Usual excitement in the planning and build up with the kids but the Bread Sauce is one of my highlights of the day.
Kelly Miotti says
Sitting around listening to carols while drinking wine and playing board games as a family! Simple, classic,
Angela Moore says
Making homemade mince pies whilst listening to Christmas carols and singing along.
Angela
Paul Rutherford says
My favourite Christmas tradition is most definitely the Turkey dinner (including going back for seconds...and thirds!) 🙂
Zoe C says
One of my fave traditions is preparing the kids stocking, always make sure they have satsumas, Choc coins and a Choc santa plus some unusual toys, something my mum always did for me when I was little
Ellen Sheppard says
Our favourite Christmas tradition is leaving cookies out for Father Christmas and carrots for Rudolph 🙂
Lorraine Tinsley says
We get up early and go downstairs in our new Christmas pjs, we open some presents and I make shaped pancakes- reindeer mainly 🙂
Lee Ritson says
I always have a nice breakfast with my brother every christmas morning and then exchange presents before heading out to see the parents 🙂
Jeff Lowe says
Watching the Queens speech before tucking into Xmas dinner
Tracey Ryder says
the whole family get new pjs on xmas eve
Fiona B says
Making sausage rolls on Christmas Eve
Simon L says
Christmas Eve carol service with all the family
Annette Brampton says
Eating mince pies with nice ice cream on.
Carol Gates says
We always go for a family walk after Christmas dinner, to walk off the puddng
ValB says
Putting up the Xmas tree really is the start of the Xmas celebrations
Stacey Carnell says
Our favourite tradition is stockings! We love filling them for each other with lots of little treats <3
Amanda Hart says
Putting up the Christmas decorations with my boys, Christmas music playing and the start of eating some scrummy chocolates
Peter Hewitt says
Brussels Sprouts, Chestnuts and Bacon
Jo McPherson says
We always open a present on Christmas Eve (always new pyjamas) 🙂
Gilla Abrahams says
Decorating the tree.
Louise A says
making the Christmas cake in October and drizzling booze into it every week
Mark Johnson says
bacon butiies before the present frenzy starts
Simone Bishop says
Opening a small matching/ shared present on Christmas Eve, like Christmassy PJs or a board game to play. It differs every year. 🙂
John Tingay says
There are a lot of Christmas traditions that I like, but nothing beats Pigs in Blankets!!!
denise houghton says
roast turkey for Christmas dinner
Christine says
My favourite tradition is frantically wrapping presents on Christmas eve whilst watching a tower of Christmas films!
Inga Andersen says
HAving Chrostmas dinner together with all the family 🙂
Rachel P says
Opening presents on Christmas morning and dinner with the family! 😀
Emma Eminoglu says
We aways have a christmas tree present which we are allowed to open christmas eve
Matt McAndrew says
Drinking myself stupid.
Tracy Nixon says
Leave out some treats for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve!
Heather Haigh says
Opening our stocking early in the morning and sharing a Christmas brekky.
Anna says
Christmas stockings - we all have them, even the adults
Fiona K says
Putting the Christmas lights on
Barbara Daniels says
drinking mulled wine with the neighbours on christmas eve
David Paterson says
Turkey dinner
val Young says
I love finding the old things the children made at school and hanging them on the tree , even though they are really quite tatty as the youngest is 27
caroline walliss says
Having a family walk along the local canal path.x
Bob Clark says
Enjoying champagne and little snacks on Chistmas morning with the whole family
david cavnder says
watching the Queens speech on Christmas afternoon
Janet Humphrey says
Christmas starts with putting out my husband's family church (about the size of a shoebox) which is very old, and sits in our kitchen window with a bulb inside it. Love to see the warming glow on arriving home
Nicki Evans says
A family walk on Christmas morning
Alison Macdonald says
New pj's for the kids every Christmas Eve and my DH makes his own chestnut stuffing every year - it's delish x
iain maciver says
Putting up the Xmas tree
Susan Ellins says
My favourite tradition is pulling crackers
Jane Adair says
Having everyone around for breakfast on Christmas morning before they all head away to enjoy their day.
michelle o'neill says
me and my grandaughter love tracking santa on christmas eve!
rena plumridge says
Putting presents on the same chair each year
Mark Matthews says
Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings.
And then a nap.
Marycarol says
Carol service at church x
Thomas buchanan says
Decorating the tree
aj says
meeting up with the family is my favourite tradition.
Jen Schofield says
Stocking and Dad carving the turkey always
Christine Caple says
We always play board games on Christmas afternoon
greig spencer says
having new pj's on xmas eve and having stockings at the end of the bed to
Sheila Shepheard says
My favourite tradition is leaving milk and mince pies for Santa on Christmas Eve.......love the kids' faces in the morning when there's only crumbs left.
Charlotte Burford says
Going to the garden centre I went to as a kid and picking out a new tree decoration with the family
Andrew reed says
Having all the family round and the mother in law cooking dinner
Claire Nutman says
Leaving Santa his milk and cookies with the children on christmas eve bedtime, so cute x
Tony Metcalfe says
Leaving some snacks out for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Allan Wilson says
Attending the Carols in the town square on Christmas Eve.
A S,Edinburgh says
I still love sending cards to people who are happy to receive them.
Vicky Varley says
Our chilled out day on christmas eve, enjoying the magic and excitement of christmas with my son!
suan watts says
Sending "Dad" downstairs to see if Father Christmas has been, then if he has we can all go downstairs.
Caroline H says
My favourite tradition is going out to pick the Christmas tree. We always make an occasion of it and try and get the perfect one before hitting our favourite restaurant for some dinner then home to decorate.
Carolynn Woodland says
Kissing under the mistletoe!
hannah Igoe says
I love getting a new decoration each year to hang on the tree and we do the same for our kids!
Bev says
Mulled wine and national Lampoon's Christmas vacation
Rebecca Lis says
Elf on the shelf
KATHY D says
on Christmas Eve our local churches get together and we have the Nativity play by candlelight. There is a real donkey and baby Jesus and it is so popular they had to have 5 sessions last year. it is a joy to attend
Jane Willis says
serving "reindeer poo" (chestnut stuffing balls) with Christmas dinner
Ray Becker says
Leaving a glass of brandy out
natalie wallace says
Having drinks and watching christmas tv with the family on Christmas Eve
lucy higgins says
we like to open our gifts in the afternoon are christmas lunch
William Gould says
Having Bucks Fizz for Christmas Day breakfast! 😀
Susan Crosswaite says
My favourite Christmas tradition is decorating the tree - with Handel's Messiah playing in the background
Henry Little says
this takes me back to childhood Christmas, we always had sixpences in our pudding, but probably not allowed today, H&E!!
Laura Nice says
Big family walk after Christmas dinner
Barbara Handley says
Opening the presents with all my grandchildren.
Robyn Hawkins says
My sister and I used to take it in turns each year to go into each others room on Christmas morning with our stockings and open our presents in bed before we went to wake up Mum and Dad. I still can't get up now in the morning without opening all my stocking presents now and can't wait until we have children ourselves so they can come into our bed in the morning and open their stocking presents! 🙂
laura stewart says
opening presents 🙂
Paula Barker says
Spending a day decorating the house, listening to Christmas songs, then have a takeaway for tea.
Danielle Pooley says
Playing monopoly after Xmas dinner lunch
Julie Wilson says
My mum decorating her house with every decoration she can find a place for and playing Christmas carols and songs.
Claire D says
Santa hat sunday where we all go out in santa hats the sunday before Xmas
Judith Allen says
I really enjoyed the Christmas morning dog walk, happy dogs with their new squeaky toys, happy owners wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.
Thanks for that recipe, my mum has always put loads of candied peel in hers, and I can't stand it.
Mark R says
Decorating the tree and remembering where or who the various ornaments came from
Rachel Craig says
Spending time with family and friends, sharing a meal and exchanging gifts :- Expressing Goodwill.
Rachel Smethurst Newport says
We always have a special breakfast before church - mincemeat croissants. Then church, then home and lunch, then finally presents in the afternoon.
I love the whole thing, but the croissants are my favourite because that's just our little family thing before everyone else arrives.
leighanne palfrey says
decorating the tree 🙂
Cassandra Jameson says
Our big family party on Christmas eve before everyone goes their separate ways to spend Christmas day with their little ones 🙂
Joanna Ford says
We always sing carols in our village around the local Christmas tree.
Soph H says
The whole family together for a roast turkey dinner 🙂
Lorraine k says
I love to read 'twas the night before Christmas' to get us in to the Christmas spirit
Hazel Rea says
We have our first full Christmas meal on Christmas Eve by candlelight. We started doing this when the children were small so I could enjoy Christmas morning without worrying about the turkey but we enjoy it so much we still do it. There's still such an air of anticipation when we all sit down.
Laura K says
My favourite Christmas tradition is finding the presents under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.
Beky Austerberry says
leaving the milk, mince pie and carrot for rudolf and santa - although at 15 & 12 my kids arn't bothered now!
Gemma Shonfeld says
Finishing work on xmas eve and heading home to chill out for the evening with party food and pjs
Jackie Allum says
Open all my presents in bed just as I did when I was little. Then have ferrero rocher for breakfast...
Katherine Teff says
A few years ago a friend gave the children an Advent Activity book- some nights colouring, some nights a game, some nights jokes, one day to write christmas cards etc. The children had a wonderful time doing the activities and I looked for one the year after, but couldn't find one. I decided that I would make my own Advent Activities and this is now a great build up to Christmas. When the order comes from the Advent Activities folder, even Christmas Card writing is acceptable!
Jemma Taylor says
Buck's Fizz and bacon butties in the morning.
stephanie Llewellyn says
stirring in the sixpence to the Christmas pudding
Nancy Bradford says
I love putting milk and cookies out for Santa and (as a parent) sneaking down and putting the presents under the tree and basically getting to be Santa for one night 🙂
Anita Hargreaves says
FAMILY board games, we are all competitive so great fun, win or lose x
claire woods says
Pulling crackers. My son insists on having them, reading the jokes and wearing the hats.
sharon stanley says
cuddling up with all three kids and my fiance to watch The Polar Express then setting a Santa trap with flower so that they think Santa has been in the morning.
renae says
We put our christmas tree up the first weekend in December - I look forward to it all year
KARL BOROWY says
turkey eating
Steve Davies says
After losing my Mother , it will be my honour to carry on the tradition of cooking Christmas dinner for my Dad. Hope I can master the gravy recipe. She made it look easy, powered on vodka snowballs, I'll try my best Mam.
Catherine says
Playing board games after dinner
Adrian Crook says
We all have to wear Christmas jumpers for Christmas day dinner
LISA TEBBTT says
WHEN MAKING THE CHRISTMAS CAKE EVERYONE HAVE A TURN TO STIR THE CAKE MIX
Dave C says
Silly games after the dinner and too much wine!
Louise Paton says
Decorating the Christmas tree!!
Maria P says
I love family Christmas dinner
Kevin Honey says
A bucks Fizz toast while the turnkey is cooking
Mary Baldwin says
Going to the Christingle service on Christmas Eve - calms me down and makes me realise what Christmas is all about, especially with the little ones performing their play
David Page says
Christmas cake and mince pies
Emma Ferguson says
The family Christmas dinner, eating, drinking and having fun
Donna Gilligan says
We go to the crib service on Christmas Eve then come home to have hot chocolate with marshmallows, and watch a movie in new fluffy PJ's, a bit of calm before all the madness of the few days which follow.
Simon C says
Favourite Christmas tradition? It's gotta be the corny jokes in the crackers. Hahaha!
Rebecca Beesley says
watching Christmas Doctor Who together! (hope there is one this year as haven't seen anything about it yet)
Alison Johnson says
Putting up the Christmas decorations as a family.
Simon Wade says
Christmas dinner! So many different meats to eat! Yummy, tummy rumbling just thinking about it.
Ellie Wood says
Making a bouche noel with my nephew on christmas eve, before putting on fresh pjs!
Solange says
Opening one present each after we arrive back from Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
Rebecca Howells (@PeanutHog) says
The day the Christmas tree goes up and comes down.
stephanie says
amazing prize
clair downham says
getting ready for father christmas coming
charlotte says
sherry trifle! its the only time of year we have it!
helen tovell says
Going to the Christngle service at the local church
Ruth Harwood says
Christmas Dinner xx
lisa dolatowski says
Getting the mistletoe out on front door, gate, hats etc
Tricia Cowell says
I love the opening of presents on Christmas morning
Michelle lyon says
I love christad eve. We have our christad eve boxes filled with goodies an traditions including reindeer food to be sprinkled. A christmas dvd. New pjs. Hot chocolate. Love the kids being all exited
Nigel Rummey says
Decorating the Christmas tree
James Harris says
My favourite Christmas tradition is playing board and card games in the evening with my family, whilst eating and drinking even more!
carole n says
relaxing over Christmas with all the family
bella smyth says
apart from spending it with the family its also my b/day on xmas day
Tamsin Dean says
love putting out the stockings
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi) says
I love decorating the tree, it's always such fun.
Angie McDonald says
I love drinking a glass of Baileys and watching Love Actually on Christmas Eve!
Sarah Wilson says
Going as a family to the carol service at the Cathedral, and all of us (trying!) singing along!
yvonne cooke says
Our christmas tradition is, as soon as dinner is finished, we get into our christmas jammies on and watch christmas movies.x Merry Christmas x
Jo Carroll says
I love all the traditions involved around the main Christmas family meal. x
Jodie W says
Ah this article has reminded me of the tradition when I lived at home and my mum would call my brother and I to the kitchen to stir the christmas pudding 3 times and make a wish each. I had forgotten about that,
Laura Pritchard says
Playing games on Christmas Eve.
S Bufton says
Baking mince pies with my family.
Ellie Smith says
Spoiling all my loved ones
Sharon Burroughs says
We always have a prawn cocktail starter.
Francesca Jones says
My first snowball cocktail whilst snuggling on the sofa watching a Christmas film.
MANDY DOHERTY says
Decorating the Xmas tree with my grandchildren
Naomi Buchan says
Putting up the tree on Dec 1st x
Krzysia says
Putting up the tree and decorations. I start really early (1st December) as I have three floors to decorate!
Victoria Prince says
My favourite Christmas tradition is going out on Christmas Eve to see the lights, eat something festive and pick up those last bits and pieces 🙂
CAT CULMER says
brand new pjs for the whole family on Christmas Eve
Emily Hutchinson says
Putting up the tree - it's so magical
JULIE WARD says
Grandchildren opening their prezzys then xmas dinner made by my son, I don't have to wash up after either
Malcolm Thompson says
Pork pie and bread and butter for Christmas Breakfast.
terri jenner says
putting up the tree with my family on my December birthday weekend and staying in out pj's all day
Angela Kelly says
I love putting a treat out for Santa and Rudolph.
Keith Hunt says
The Yule Lads that is part of christmas in Iceland
Gillian Holmes says
Making homemade mince pies
Jayne K says
Overeating & avoiding the washing up. 😉
Amy Warwick says
Christmas dinner !
michelle speight says
the traditionl board games
Dale Dow says
bacon rolls at my Mums on Christmas morning
Sheri Darby says
A Chinese take away on Christmas Eve
AnnaH says
Hanging stockings by the fire on Christmas Eve ... and leaving mince pies and a bottle of real ale for Santa
Jayne agg says
I love my family around me and sharing the joy and Laughter with my grandchildren at Christmas.
leanne weir says
Christmas dinner with the trimmings
janine atkin says
we all wear new pyjamas on xmas eve and watch a xmas film
Cheryl says
Watching The Polar Express after eating our lovely Christmas dinner.
Debra Shanahan says
a glass of milk for santa, and a carrot for rudolph...
Kat Allinson says
Making the Christmas cake and puddings with my children and husband, all having a stir and licking the bowls 🙂
Geoff Hibbert says
Carol singing
Rachel Harding says
Our family always play The Chocolate Game on Christmas Day. It involves a tray and a dice. You have to throw a six to take your turn, which is to put on a hat, scarf and gloves and then cut up the chocolate bar with a knife and fork and eat as much as you can before the next person throws a six. It's hilarious!
Caoimhe says
My favourite Christmas tradition is Christmas night where we all get cosy in our pyjamas and discuss how fortunate we are to have the people that we do in our lives. 🙂 Then we stuff our faces with chocolate and sweets until we can't breathe and watch a few Christmas movies.
Anni says
This looks lovely! This year, we are planning more home-family activities and fewer running-around-crazy events. My girls would probably love this activity! One of our favorite activities already is making gingerbread cookies.
Marie Rule says
Just spending time with family
Jules Eley says
Sprouts I love them 🙂
Hekna says
I love Christmas stockings. It's something I've introduced to our family from my childhood and I love finding lots of lovely bits to go in them.
Adrian Bold says
We leave an Annual at the end of the kids beds each year from Santa. Gives us a few extra minutes in bed 🙂
Tom Morrison says
We still make our own Christmas Pudding and everyone has a stir of the mixture for good luck!
Ann Skamarauskas says
making the hot Christmas punch on Christmas morning for when all the family arrive
Erica Price says
We used to do this when I was little - even after decimalisation there was the odd sixpence in circulation still and they were worth 2.5p. I think once they weren't easily available any more that tradition died out.
Gemma Found says
Decorating the Christmas Tree whilst listening to Christmas Music.
Susan Hoggett says
all the family opening their presents in front of the fire on xmas morning
Leslie Evans says
Thick, Cold Turkey Sandwich for breakfast on Boxing Day.
Christine Hobbs says
My favourite Christmas tradition is all gathering on my bed and opening our stockings. We eat chocolate before breakfast and have a glassof Bucks fizz in the bed. Its a bit of a squash but the best bit of the day xx
Daphne Monk says
Getting up early to put the oven on, and jumping back into bed with a cup of tea to open the stockings
karen watt says
Preparing the table the night before and a takeaway
Dawn Underwood says
Charades
Christina Palmer says
Wearing christmas hats around the table and telling the corny jokes from the christmas crackers
Kyomi Johnson says
New pjs and a film on Christmas Eve
LEE HARDY says
Getting up early with daughter to open presents
Kelly Ellen Hirst says
Making mince pies for Santa on Christmas Eve
lara latchem says
making chestnut and sausage meat stuffing. love doing this with my mum
lynda connolly says
we have just started a new tradition which is wearing christmas jumpers the sillier the better
Mark Rayner says
The kids getting PJ's from Mrs Christmas on Christmas Eve.
sue mcdermott says
mince pies & sherry for santa
Beverley Cousins says
My favourite Christmas tradition is most definitely the Turkey dinner
Stevie says
I like to see how excited my nieces become. The magic of santa is still real to them.
Alison MacDonald says
Listening to Christmas Carols with a glass of wine on Christmas Eve xx
Susan B says
Buying a fresh pine tree, decorating it and coming home in the evening to that gorgeous pine fragrance and sparkling lights. Lovely.
Andy Berry says
Watching Die Hard!!!! Excellent festive film for action fans!
steve cooper says
Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings.
joy buckenham says
wow this takes me back to my child hood
Karen R says
We open our presents on Christmas Eve with hubby with a Santa hat bringing the presents through, and us all opening our presents together and letting each other see what we've received. I find this so much nicer than having the kids opening them at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning!
Stuart Dunlop says
As a family, after the kids have had their gifts, we get together after Christmas Dinner, and open all the adult gifts.
Lynn Hughes says
Making a Christmas Cake.
Amy Jo McLellan says
Watching It's A Wonderful Life every Christmas Eve 🙂
Michelle Wild says
Watching James Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life.
Penny Ford says
Midnight Mass
Dianne Brewin says
Buzz fizz and pain au chocolat and croissants on Christmas Morning whilst watching the children open their presents.
rebecca scott says
we have a buffet on christmas eve
tracy sinclair says
Playing board games after our christmas dinner, then watching a christmas film together x
Wendy Guy says
Having a Christmas stocking hanging on the bed knob on Christmas morning.
sb says
let our daughter choose what we have for dinner,as its her birthday
Allan Fullarton says
Watching the Queens speech before having a lovely xmas lunch.
Michaela Smith says
Bucks fizz on Christmas morning 🙂 🙂 🙂
lynn neal says
New cosy pyjamas on Christmas Eve!
EJ Dunn says
We still put out a carrot for reindeer, sherry and choccies for Santa.
Aaron Milne says
Love parties - meeting friend old & new - with lots of eating & drinking
gemma raines says
Ours is a board game followed by a movie after weve all had a yummy dinner
Lynsey Buchanan says
We always go and see a pantomime on Christmas Eve.
christine WESTLAKE says
making my christmas puddings with a family recipe passed down through several generations
sarah says
putting up the tree with our family
Emma says
Eating mum's homemade Xmas pudding.
Monika Bascombe says
Cristmas carols and going to a midnight mass
Joanna Sawka says
opening presents on Christmas Eve
Lisa Wilkinson says
Taking my little girl to see Santa
Stev Rigby says
My favourite Christmas tradition is to wait until after the queens speech before opening our presents.
Kristy Brown says
I like that we all pile into one bed to open our stockings!
Kirsteen Mackay says
Baking Christmas treats with my family and friends a couple of days before Christmas.
Samantha R says
My favourite tradition is definitely the big dinner!
Rose Stephenson says
We get a tree ornament whenever we travel and it is great each year bringing them out and remembering where we have been.
M Harvey says
I actually never had christams pudding
Leanne Bell says
New PJs all ready to go to bed in on Christmas Eve
Nick Wells-gaston says
My favourite is christmas dinner and cold with mash and pickles on Boxing Day!!
Sally Willcock says
Well, as a child, we always had Christmas Dinner half way through the afternoon, straight after the Queens speech - so, we've just carried it on 🙂
Stuart Osborne says
We seem to have incorporated lots of mine, and my wifes 'family' traditions. So, we have more food for dinner than most - including mash and roast, apple sauce (great with turkey), cheese with Christmas cake and I could go on. Good to think really that we're carrying on these little family things that have probably been around for generations.
Jennie says
putting the family presents out before our son goes to bed.
Harley says
Stockings, the kids love the little bits and bobs in them more than the £100 presents downstairs
Shirley evans says
My favourite Christmas custom is stirring the pudding and making a wish.
Christopher Read says
Chocolate tree decorations!
Maureen says
Choosing the Christmas tree
Monica Gilbert says
All going downstairs together Christmas morning. The adults enter the room first in order to light the tree and see the children's reactions.
claire little says
pulling crackers
Jess Faulkner says
Christimas dinner with the whole family, wearing the hats from the crackers all throughout!
Su Brett says
Decorating the tree
Kerry Webber says
Even though it's not very Christmasy, we always have steak and chips on Christmas Eve!
Jamie C Millard says
christmas eve movie night.
Robyn Clarke says
Ours is a fairly new tradition, we go for a drive on Christmas eve and look at the Christmas lights then back home to feed the reindeers.
Lydia Graham says
Watching A Christmas Carol while putting out the milk and mince pie for Santa and carrot for Rudolph
Verity Evans says
No joke, one of our traditions is my mum wraps my presents for me (apart from hers). I'm 26 and I have no idea why she wants to do it, and I actually enjoy wrapping, but who am I to stop her!
alice lightning says
always full English on Christmas day followed by opening of presents and of course always turkey with all the trimmings tradition in our home love Christmas so special memories are made
steph lovatt says
Tracking Santa and putting out reindeer food so he can find our house
Jill Fairbanks says
We always put on a Christmas film and put out the tipple and mince pie and carrot for Santa
emma jordan says
Going for a long Xmas eve walk!
cathyj says
spending time with my loved ones
Lucy Chester says
On Christmas Eve we always have a little family party, watch a Christmas film and open one present each.
Kirsty Woods says
Hanging the Christmas stockings
Amanda Davis says
Christmas dinner with the whole family
Sally Henry says
My favourrite tradition is going to the Christingle carol concert at my local church on Christmas eve; singing carols by candlelight is magical and the air is alive with excitement and anticipation - this is when Christmas really starts for me.
Dawn Chapman says
We open one present each on Christmas Eve!
Amy Lambert says
Putting flour round my partners foot prints to make it look like santas walked through our living room
kellyjo walters says
We started a new tradition around 5 years ago.. every Xmas eve I go to Harrods and buy a big buffet of seafood for a slap up meal that evening ... we don't have ids or family to worry about so just us 2 so it's our treat
Victoria Thurgood says
letting all the kids decorate the Tree
adrian price says
FATHER CHRISTMAS VISITING
Kim Styles says
we all eat a mince pie each day over the twelve day of Christmas - it brings good luck for the year ahead
jackie rushton says
Watching the Queen's speech with my family!
Amanda Norwood says
Eating Christmas pudding after the Queen's speech
frances hopkins says
Trying to get some bargains on Xmas Eve
Claire Davey says
every year we have a box that is opened on xmas eve and boxing day consists of left over xmas dinner as bubble and squeak
Julie Camm says
Making my Christmas table as blingy as possible....
paula cheadle says
K make my own mince pies with my own recipe for the mince, was my Nan's recipe
George Wright says
Christmas Eve hot chocolates with a Christmas film in our new pyjamas!
Victoria B says
Christmas dinner always at 1pm and my Gran always used to get us a box of Quality Streets
Tracey F says
Opening a couple of presents after the ids have gone to bed!
Alisa Moore says
Making eggnog
aga says
MAKING GINGERBREAD COOKIES TOGETHER
Angela Sandhu says
We have our own tradition of sleeping in front of the tv on Christmas Eve and watch Christmas movies and eat chocolate and oranges
lucy knight says
The best xmas tradition in our house is boxing day when we have a day in our pjs,kids playing with toys n presents watching xmas tv and chilling out then boxing day tea of cold meats,bubble n squeak etc.just family time the best
Gillian Turner says
We each get to open one present just after midnight, then it is off to bed so Santa can do his job.
Carol Boffey says
Christmas dinner with the family
Joanne Austin says
My son always puts the star on top of the Christmas tree
jennifer bolognesi says
Home made Cappelletti in chicken broth. A complete faff to make up at the crack of dawn to make the pasta try to find the space to hang it all. Make the filling and the broth, making the hundreds of cappelletti, getting finger ache and blinded by endless rows of the little pasta hats.
However when it comes to eating them probably the most divine taste I'll have all year and so worth it
Jane Skarratt says
Annual Carol Service
natalee gosiewski says
every year both of my children buy one new ornament each for the tree our Christmas is full of mish mash decorations bright and funky my kids are 9 8 and 3 so we always have fun talking about the memories of the years before ok our tree is not colour coordinated but its full of tradition and happy memories
Karen Dixon says
Getting to open one present on xmas eve before going to bed.
Cathy O says
Having all the family around and a big roast dinner then opening the presents later.
sonny richardson says
taking time to chill out with family and over indulging on food that are off limits!
Karen Scott says
Advent Calenders....the excitement before the event is the best 🙂
Laura Harrison says
Christmas lunch with the family and then opening the presents from under the tree xx
Heather Tinkler says
Lighting the Christmas pud and singing we wish you a merry Christmas until it goes out
Pauline Burroughs says
It wouldn't be Christmas without the roast turkey dinner complete with roast potatoes, brussel sprouts and bread sauce. Followed, of course, with Christmas pud! My mouth's watering just thinking about it x
Matt Froggatt says
One present each on christmas eve
Natalie Gillham says
Christmas Dinner x
Herbert Appleby says
Christmas dinner
Deborah Mackenzie says
Being together as a family; and I love gifting so everyone gets spoilt
Natalie Crossan says
The unbelievable christmas dinner my Mum does x
Hayley Todd says
We have lots of little Christmas traditions! It starts at the beginning of December with us putting up our Christmas tree, we make our Christmas cake together and always bake a gingerbread house and decorate it on the first weekend of December. We always go to visit Santa and have breakfast with Santa every Christmas Eve at our local garden centre. Our Christmas Eve evening tradition is to put on our brand new special Christmas PJ's and all of us snuggle on the sofa under a lovely warm blanket and watch Miracle on 34th Street.
Suzanne Brown says
Advent calendars! The start of all the beautiful Christmas traditions.
Clare Tate says
having a very yummy Christmas dinner with all my family, then playing board games with my kids
kellie herridge says
letting the kids decorate the tree.
Emma Nixon says
Spending time decorating the christmas cake with family
Anna Brown says
I love our Christmas tradition of having family round for dinner and playing games in the afternoon.
Rebecca Smith says
watching the queens speech
LORNA WIL says
my home made Christmas cake.
ellie spider says
we have a family tradition of getting a 'junk' shop gift - basically we buy each other a gift from a bootsale or charity shop or years ago it was the jumble sales lol - but these gifts normally end up being the best ones because we all t ry to get something awesome - my sister is a huge bon jovi fan so last year I found an old annual at a chairty shop with them in and then a slippery when wet album at a boot sale - got some cheap frames from ikea in the colour of her room - she absolutely loved it 😀
Stuart H says
The annual Home Alone 1 and 2 watching
Emma Beckett says
The Christmas dinner is my favourite tradition as we all make a special effort to sit around together.
Katie irving says
My mum always put a christmas tree decoration in mine and my brothers stocking, so when we moved out we already had a lot of special decorations to start our own christmas trees off with. Iv started this with children too
Ellen Stafford says
We always watch Santa Claus: The Movie on Christmas Eve. Reminds me so much of times with my Nan. I also love decorating the tree with the Christmas carols on.
Sara Goodman says
Sad though it is, I love Christmas crackers.
Thanks for a fabulous giveaway 🙂
Karen hutchinson says
Opening one present on xmas eve - left by the secret elf
Saz Palmer says
putting the mince pie, carrot and milk out for santa and his reindeer my older two loved it but they are too old now but my 6 and 4 yr olds are starting to realise what time of year it is xx
Sparklett21 says
Meeting my friend for a Christmas Eve coffee & present exchange
Chevaune Stanley says
Being together with my kids who have left home and I don't see as often as I like. Christmas dinner is just the best thing for me, the whole family together!
Sarah says
I love making puddings on Stir up Sunday every year, and this year my eldest will be old enough to properly "help" with pouring in the ingredients and stirring up, and making a wish of course!
I usually stir in a 10 pence piece, but it would be lovely to have a traditional 6 pence to cherish every year xx
Joanna Kasznicki says
Letting my partner pop the star on top of the christmas tree.
Lorna-Jane Holland says
Going for a long walk with the dog then playing board games together as a family on Christmas Eve x
Phill Worboys says
Watching the Christmas film together whilst playing board games.
Jen Walshaw says
I LOVE how we both used our Grandparents pudding recipes, but they are so different. We had lots of fun making this year's Christmas Pudding. Now the boys want to see who will get the sixpence!