Christmas Dinner

A traditional English Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey and stuffing, roast potatoes and vegetables, bread sauce, cranberry sauce and gravy, followed by Christmas pudding with brandy butter.

A turkey tradition

  A Christmas tradition involving the turkey is to pull its wishbone. This is one of the bones of the turkey which is shaped like the letter ‘Y’. Tho people will each hold an end and pull. The person left with the larger piece of the bone makes a wish.

The Christmas Pudding

  A Christmas pudding is a brown pudding with raisins, nuts and cherries. It is served with custard or brandy butter. Often brandy is poured over the pudding, which is then set a light as it is carried to the table.

 Traditionally silver coins were hidden in the pudding. A silver coin brought good fortune to whomever was lucky enough to find it when the pudding was cut.

  The traditional time for making a Christmas pudding ‘Stir Up Sunday’ at the beginning of advent. A proper Christmas pudding is always stirred from East to West in honour of the three Wise men and traditionally made 13 ingredients to represent Christ and His Disciples. Every member of the family must give the pudding a stir and make a secret wish.

Traditionally a Christmas cracker is placed next to each plate on the Christmas dinner table. When the crackers are pulled, out falls a colourful party crown, a toy or gift and a festive joke.