Talk:Christmas pudding

message: brilliant article, I'm dribbling already. jimfbleak 08:07, 16 Dec 2003 (UTC)
replies: text: difficult to put a date on it.  The date when the Mint stopped issuing real silver coins is probably in the British coinage pages somewhere, but they didn't vanish from circulation immediately.  All the "silver" 3d pieces really were silver, and you could still find the odd one of those in the '50s (we used to save them up to put in the pudding).  Older silver 6d and 1s coins were still in circulation then, too, and some households used to save the odd silver one they found to go in the pudding (my mother used to wrap a cupro-nickel sixpence up in greaseproof paper as a compromise).  But because with inflation the real silver coins became worth much more than their face value, people took them out of circulation, and I think eventually the Mint began playing the same game.  Unfortunately we don't have an article on the 6d, which might give the detail. seglea 08:54, 17 Dec 2003 (UTC)

text: mixed citrus, I think, but I'm not sure enough to do an article on it, which is certainly needed.  It comes cut into cubes about .5cm.  Standard item on the UK cook's shelf but I've never seen it anywhere else (not that I've looked very hard, it's not my personal favourite).  seglea 17:39, 18 Dec 2003 (UTC)
thread_title:  Initial comments 

message: 10/Feb/2004
Before I altered the Christmas Pudding page, I thought I would ask here first;
I own a non-profit, no banner, no requests for donations hobby site about Christmas Puddings and it includes my recipe. I was going to add a couple of my photos to the Wikipedia Christmas Pudding page, and offer a link to my site. Is the link a reasonable idea, or will people be upset? here's the link; http://pudding.denyer.net/   all constructive comments appreciated, Paul Denyer
(there's a feedback form on the site, if you wish to contact me)
:I've had a look and I think it would be a perfectly reasonable link from the article.  And a picture or two would be excellent - thanks.  seglea 06:28, 10 Feb 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: Paul, while you're here, go check out our Wikimedia Cookbook at the sister project, Wikibooks  We have a recipe for a Sussex pudding at Christmas pudding, but more always could be added, either on the same page or with some other title to differentiate them, that is if you're willing to release it under the GFDL. Gentgeen 07:39, 11 Feb 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: And there's no need to be hesitant about editing anyone else's work on Wikipedia - speaking as the chief contributor to Christmas Pudding so far, I say go right ahead!  (I can just change it back if I don't like it, after all). seglea 08:31, 11 Feb 2004 (UTC)
replies: text:  Too right! Paul everybody here edits everyone elses work mercilessly. It's how Wikipedia works. Just jump in and join the party. theresa knott 09:36, 11 Feb 2004 (UTC)
thread_title:  Second group of comments 

message: What is there in Christmas pudding ? I would love to have a recipee of that famous cake, but that is unfortunate, that there is no information about this in the encyclopedia. How sad. Anthère0
:Ah, found it, I am relieved :-) Well, it is good that a link be provided. The article could have been deleted as others were. Brrrr. Glad they were some people to provide background :-)
Isn't Christmas pudding also known as "figgy pudding", as well as plum pudding? I can not find any information on figgy pudding on Wiki beyond the lyrics of "We wish you a merry Christmas", however from looking around online, it appears at one time "figgy" and plum pudding were both tradition foods for the holiday. I don't mean to nit pick. I just think if this is correct, it would be useful information to add - I've heard many people wonder what exactly figgy pudding is.
75.111.30.152 07:39, 24 November 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: It appears figgy pudding is something different - there is now an article on it. I didn't know either. seglea 22:32, 9 May 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Third group of comments 

message: I did a slight rework to improve the structure and allow me to add a note about flaming/firing (when I first had a northern girlfriend I discovered it is not universal). She looked at my dad like he was a loon. Icundell 22:48, 13 Dec 2004 (UTC)
thread_title:  Wonderful article 

message: "Many households have their own recipe for Christmas pudding, preferably handed down the family; it is probable that there are also regional variations."
Is it really preferable that the recipe be passed down in such a manner? Perhaps a revision should be considered.
(Pygmypony 05:42, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I think I wrote the "preferably" originally.  What it means is that these are the ones regarded with most pride and pleasure.  I'll put something like that in. seglea 22:20, 9 May 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Interesting Word Choice 

message: It seems to be original research. Someone needs to add citations.  oTHErONE (Contribs) 08:17, 10 November 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Not really OR. It's just stuff most English people know. There is nothing there that I find even slightly surprising. Icundell 14:25, 12 November 2006 (UTC)

text: whilst I never buy Christmas puddings you'll find that the "few weeks before Christmas" has morphed into more than four months - first seen this year on 4th September! DickyP (talk) 12:09, 17 October 2022 (UTC)
thread_title:  The "After Christmas" section. 

message: Werent Christmas Puddings Banned by puritans? or is this just a myth
Christmas celebrations in general were banned by the rather Puritan Parliament in the 1640s, a practice continued in the English interregnum (1649-1660), which also affected some of the American colonies at the time.  Parliament was successful in suppressing church services on Christmas Day and making it a regular work-day, but they were not entirely successful in stamping out celebrations and popular observance of the day.  The term "Christmas pudding" does not commonly appear in print till the 19th century.  However, as food historian Ivan Day has noted, the oldest known uses of the term "Christmas Pudding" are in 1649 and 1675, so it is possible that the general ban on Christmas celebrations was understood as a ban on Christmas Pudding.  However, there is no substantiation of any explicit ban on the pudding itself.  MonteGargano (talk) 06:04, 23 November 2013 (UTC)
thread_title:  Puritan Ban 

message: Why on Earth has this article been tagged as not citing its references and sources?  Any ideas?  This looks like over-zealous tagging.
—Stonefield 11:18, 16 December 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Citation 

message: Is it really true that Christmas puddings are available and eaten throughout the year as it says in the introduction? In my experience, they are only found in the shops running up to Christmas and I've never seen them eaten at any other time than Christmas (which is a shame as I adore them!)Hot cross buns are a different matter - you seem to see them for sale all year round, now.
:I have also come here to say that Christmas pud is only eaten at Xmas. Definately not at Easter. "Christmas pudding is the dessert traditionally served on Christmas day, although still available and popular throughout the year in Britain." I say that the later half of this sentance should be deleted as it is definately not true! You can only buy them leading up to Xmas for example. 89.242.118.82 (talk) 14:54, 3 December 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: Your assertion is as accurate as your spelling!  Christmas Pudding is most definitely eaten all year round - not to mention that shop-bought ones are nowhere near as good as a good home made one.  Once made they literally last for years. DickyP (talk) 12:09, 17 October 2022 (UTC)
thread_title: All year round

message: Could someone more competent than me please add the information that plum pudding does not actually contain plums and give the reason why?  This is really missing from this article, thanks.  Maikel 09:02, 27 August 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: No plums in plum pudding

message: This article states that the addition of prunes in Elizabethan times is the reason for the name "plum pudding." I've read many times that this is a common misconception, that "plums" is simply the way people used to refer to raisins or currants. Does anyone have a reliable source on this?  SergioGeorgini (talk) 13:26, 25 November 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: I have no reference to name, either, other than to say that I heard a discussion of this on a holiday cooking show a few years back. The chef and the food historian on the show agreed with  that in Elizabethan times, all dried fruits were referred to as "plums". I do not remember why. I cannot say whether they were true authorities or not as I don't remember their names. Wordreader (talk) 23:12, 9 August 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  Plums = raisins/currants? 

message: The various images placed in the The wish and other traditions section looks distracting (they look yummy, but their positioning makes it hard to read and focus on the article). Would people object if those images were placed in a gallery like this?:
Image:Stirring_christmas_pudding.JPG|description
Image:Christmas_pudding.JPG|description
Image:Christmas_Pudding.JPG|description
Image:Christmas_Pudding_Being_Flamed.JPG|description
londonsista Prod 09:45, 6 December 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: I've removed numerous citation tags in the article, it made the section look messy. I replaced those with a refimprovesection tag. Also removed and/or added wikilinks to words, and I have added a reference section. I fiddled about with the above image gallery to see how it fits in with the article. But to be honest I'd really like a discussion/some sort of consensus before changing anything in case something else can be done/I piss someone off. ;) londonsista Prod 13:59, 16 December 2008 (UTC)
thread_title: Images

message: I was always told that "Plum" was a corruption of "Plomb" or "Plumb" meaning heavy (like lead, plumbum (Latin))  Certainly in  my French lessons at school there were references to English puddings being Plomb.
If you read the OED you'll find that Plum was in the past a generic term for all fruits such as currents, raisins etc, when used in cooking. DickyP (talk) 12:09, 17 October 2022 (UTC)
thread_title:  Plum Puddings 

message: Do British vegetarians have an effective substitute for the suet? Thank you, Wordreader (talk) 07:50, 25 December 2013 (UTC)
replies: text: Most supermarkets sell vegetarian suet.109.158.149.79 (talk) 17:36, 9 October 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: What is "vegetarian suet"? Do you mean margarine or coconut oil or what? Thank you, Wordreader (talk) 03:59, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: It's basically hard margarine containing a number of vegetable oils and fats. It doesn't taste anything like suet, but has a similar texture and cooking qualities. --Ef80 (talk) 15:28, 2 November 2014 (UTC)

text: It is a mixture of flour (either wheat or rice) and vegetable oil, that is made to look like suet. 86.186.228.112 (talk) 04:34, 13 December 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  A vegetarian version? 

message: The article currently gives the impression that CP is lovingly made in British homes using recipes handed down the generations. I doubt if this was ever true, even when Christmas dinners were huge Dickensian feasts with dozens of diners, and it's certainly not true today. Anybody who has made CP from scratch will know that it's a very big job for very little benefit. Almost everybody in the UK buys CP from the supermarket and cooks it in a microwave oven. --Ef80 (talk) 15:24, 2 November 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: As below, I disagree - Making Christmas Pudding is only time consuming, NOT difficult!  And the benefits are enormous - not as sweet, lighter but firmer once cooked, and much tastier.  Most important of all one NEVER, EVER cooks a CP in a microwave: it makes them go like a cannon ball. DickyP (talk) 12:09, 17 October 2022 (UTC)

text: I disagree, many people make their own Christmas pudding. Otherwise, why do you think cookery shows, cookbooks and magazines are full of recipes for Christmas pudding and supermarkets sell large volumes of the ingredients to make it? Also, it isn't "a very big job", it is much easier to make than most desserts as everything is essentially just mixed in together, it doesn't require accuracy and you can't really get it wrong. You can buy almost anything ready made, but cooking remains a normal activity for much of the population.86.186.228.112 (talk) 04:26, 13 December 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  Homemade dish 

message: I added a couple paragraphs about the King's Christmas Pudding. O'Connor's article is really interesting because it has examples of what some of the pudding recipes and cookbooks looked like in the 1920s and 30s.  This recipe really put Christmas pudding on the map and made it one of, if not the most famous dish that came of the British Empire. — Preceding unsigned comment added by IamMeggs (talk • contribs) 23:17, 7 December 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  The King's Christmas