Stir-Up Sunday is the last Sunday before Advent, deriving its name from the first two words of the Church of England reading for that day: “Stir up we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people that they plenteously bring forth the fruit of good works.” This has been parodied by generations of choirboys as “Stir up we beseech thee the pudding in the pot. And when we get home, we’ll eat it up all hot.”
An English tradition requires that the Christmas pudding be stirred up, with each family member taking a turn and making a wish — some insist that the stirring must be performed clockwise and with eyes closed. This may derive from the custom of stirring from East to West because the Magi arrived in Bethlehem from the East. The day also announces to school children the approach of the Christmas holidays.