Here once again is the "Last Sunday in Ordinary Time" in the Christian calendar. Next Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent, in which Christians begin to prepare for Christmas. In stores this means a frenzy of shopping and the putting up of Christmas decorations.
In the past this preparation was more subtle; it was behind the scenes. Christmas decorations didn't go up until Christmas Eve, and then they remained up until January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. In the very oldest of traditions, you needed not take down your decorations until Candlemas, February 2.
The earliest preparation was that of the Christmas Pudding, or "plum pudding," which was made and then let rest (allowing all the alcohol in the mix to "settle in"). This was made on "Stir-Up Sunday," from the text for that Sunday from The Book of Common Prayer: "Stir-up, we beseech thee, oh Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may be thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."
"The whole family participated in Stir-Up Sunday, with each member taking a turn to stir the pudding mixture—always from east to west to honor the journey of the Magi—making a wish as they did...Also symbolic is the notion that the Christmas Pudding should have thirteen ingredients to represent Jesus and the twelve Apostles. Traditionally, the ingredients were raisins, currants, suet, brown sugar, breadcrumbs, citron, lemon peel, orange peel, flour, mixed spices, eggs, milk, and brandy. (No plums.)"*
* from the Christmas 2021 issue of "Early American Life."
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