Quizzes & Puzzles16 mins ago
Lighting the Christmas pud
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When and how did this tradition start, and do any of you do it on Christmas day?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.On Wiki it suggests it's due to a game called Snap-dragon - a parlour game popular from about the 16th to 19th centuries. It was played during the winter, particularly on Christmas Eve. Brandy was heated and placed in a wide shallow bowl; raisins were placed in the brandy which was then set alight. Typically, lights were extinguished or dimmed to increase the eerie effect of the blue flames playing across the liquor. The aim of the game was to pluck the raisins out of the burning brandy and eat them, at the risk of being burnt.
We always do it on Christmas Day and, because we have dinner quite late, turn off all the lights while my mum walks through the house into cheers from everyone in the dining room (we're all grown up now, but how could we resist going home when this is what we get?!)
Funnily enough, my parents are happy-clappy Christians and have adopted a tradition in the last few years of singing Happy Birthday (Dear Jesus!) as the pudding is brought in. Reduces me to tears of laughter, every time - but very sweet!
We always do it on Christmas Day and, because we have dinner quite late, turn off all the lights while my mum walks through the house into cheers from everyone in the dining room (we're all grown up now, but how could we resist going home when this is what we get?!)
Funnily enough, my parents are happy-clappy Christians and have adopted a tradition in the last few years of singing Happy Birthday (Dear Jesus!) as the pudding is brought in. Reduces me to tears of laughter, every time - but very sweet!
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