Most people no longer think Christmas pudding important for festive table
The traditional Christmas pudding seems to be losing its importance on festive tables, according to a recent survey. Published on Wales Online, the research commissioned by the Royal Mint showed that six in 10 adults no longer consider Christmas pudding a crucial part of their Christmas Day celebrations. Despite this, over 90% of Christmas celebrants still value the tradition of enjoying a Christmas dinner.
The survey conducted by YouGov involved more than 2,100 participants. It revealed that 77% of respondents were unfamiliar with Stir-up Sunday, an age-old tradition observed on the last Sunday before Advent for preparing Christmas pudding. Only 4% of Christmas celebrants acknowledged following Stir-up Sunday, while 13% placed greater importance on another modern tradition – having an elf on the shelf.
The Royal Mint marked this festive season by introducing a “sustainable” sixpence made from recovered X-ray silver. A limited release of 100 pieces for Christmas 2024 quickly sold out within 24 hours. The mint’s future plan includes producing all sixpences with reclaimed precious metals starting in 2025. Though the sixpence has been out of circulation for more than 50 years, it continues to hold significance in various traditions, such as being stirred into Christmas puddings for good luck.
Rebecca Morgan, the Director of Commemorative Coin at the Royal Mint, expressed the importance of preserving tradition while embracing sustainability. The recovered silver sixpence symbolises good fortune and a more eco-conscious festive season. Food historian and author Annie Gray shed light on the origins of Stir-up Sunday, a Victorian tradition rooted in preparing plum pudding ahead of Christmas Day. The custom of hiding tokens like the sixpence in the twelfth cake, a precursor to the modern Christmas cake, promised wealth and happiness to the finder.
Despite the decline in Christmas pudding popularity, the survey highlighted that festive traditions remain significant for 70% of participants. Unwrapping presents ranked as the second most cherished tradition after the Christmas dinner, with a noteworthy 90% participation rate. Additionally, two-thirds of respondents expressed joy in sending and/or receiving Christmas cards, while 26% enjoyed attending Christmas shows or pantomimes during the holiday season.
According to the survey, millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, hold festive traditions in higher regard than any other generation. The study conducted in July reported that 76% of millennials find festive traditions important. This data suggests that while some traditions like the Christmas pudding may be losing favour, the spirit of the holiday season and the value of traditions remain strong among many people today.