What Is Figgy Pudding? (and Why Do We Sing About It at Christmas?) (2024)

Updated: Sep. 14, 2023

It's mentioned in A Christmas Carol and in actual carols. Why do we sing about this Dickens of a dessert?

People sing about it in “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Charles Dickens wrote about it in A Christmas Carol. But whatisfiggy pudding? And why do we sing about this Dickens of a dessert every holiday season?

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What Is Figgy Pudding?

In its most basic form, figgy pudding is a steamed, domed-shaped cake baked in a water bath in the oven. It’s made with alcohol and dried fruit and is a traditional English dessert. It’s more like a cake than what Americans think of as a soft, custard-like pudding.

Figgy pudding is also known as Christmas pudding or plum pudding. It can also be affectionately called “pud.”

What Is Figgy Pudding Made Of?

The flavors can include figs, plums, raisins, currants, oranges, cherries, cranberries, citrus zest and juice, along with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and allspice. The result is a dessert similar to what we know as a holiday fruitcake.

Why Is It Called Figgy Pudding?

The ‘pudding’ part of the name makes it a dessert in Britain, but not the custardy type of dish most Americans would associate with the word. At some point the dish included figs, lending itself to the term of ‘figgy’ as part of a Christmas pudding recipe.

Why Do People Sing About Figgy Pudding?

For starters, it is a symbolic Christmas dessert. It was originally made with 13 ingredients which represented Christ and the 12 apostles. It was finished with a sprig of holly on top as a symbol of the crown of thorns.

As for the figgy pudding song, near the end of the 16th century, carolers began to sing the English folk song, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” When poor folks stood on the doorsteps of the wealthy and sang, “Oh bring us some figgy pudding,” and “we won’t go until we get some,” they probably were having a bit of fun, requesting a helping of this rich Christmas dessert.

How to Make Figgy Pudding

In years past, preparations for the perfect pudding began around five weeks before Christmas. Twice-boiled in a pudding cloth, it was then aged—time-consuming and labor-intensive, but worth the effort.

Now, the dessert is steamed for a few hours as it bakes in the oven in a water bath. Christmas puddings are loaded with alcohol to draw out and intensify the flavor, most often rum or brandy. The kitchen will be filled with a mix of fragrant spices and spirits as it bakes!

If you’re looking for a store-bought figgy pudding, this Spam figgy pudding option might be your next favorite product.

What Is Figgy Pudding? (and Why Do We Sing About It at Christmas?) (2024)

FAQs

What Is Figgy Pudding? (and Why Do We Sing About It at Christmas?)? ›

Why Do People Sing About Figgy Pudding? For starters, it is a symbolic Christmas dessert. It was originally made with 13 ingredients which represented Christ and the 12 apostles. It was finished with a sprig of holly on top as a symbol of the crown of thorns.

Why is figgy pudding associated with Christmas? ›

The traditions around the figgy pudding carry a lot of Christian symbolism, Waugh says. The classic dish had 13 ingredients — "representing Christ and the 12 apostles," she says — and was served with a sprig of holly on top, standing in for the crown of thorns.

Why do we have Christmas pudding at Christmas? ›

Christmas pudding originated as a 14th century porridge called 'frumenty' that was made of beef and mutton with raisins, currants, prunes, wines and spices. This would often be more like soup and was eaten as a fasting meal in preparation for the Christmas festivities.

What Christmas carol talks about figgy pudding? ›

Figgy pudding just might be one of the most talked-about Christmas dishes. Carolers sing “now bring us some figgy pudding!” In “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and the dish is a centerpiece in Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol,” when Mrs.

What is the pudding in the Christmas carol? ›

The idea of plum pudding as a Christmas dish rose to prominence during the Victorian period, as seen in A Christmas Carol (published in 1843) shown in this illustration of the Ghost of Christmas Present from the first edition.

Why do we sing about figgy pudding? ›

As for the figgy pudding song, near the end of the 16th century, carolers began to sing the English folk song, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” When poor folks stood on the doorsteps of the wealthy and sang, “Oh bring us some figgy pudding,” and “we won't go until we get some,” they probably were having a bit of fun, ...

What is figgy pudding made of? ›

Traditional figgy pudding is a holiday dish made with flour, suet (a type of hard animal fat), figs, and other dried fruits. Some more modern versions, like this one, are made without suet. Here's what you'll need for this top-rated figgy pudding recipe: Buttermilk.

Why is Christmas pudding important to Christians? ›

The pudding was meant to have 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples. Often small trinkets were hidden in the mixture (a silver coin for wealth, a ring for future marriage and a thimble for spinsterhood!). The brandy poured over it and set alight represented the passion of Christ.

What is the saying for figgy pudding? ›

Often associated with the original traditions of Christmas, it is most notably referred to in the Christmas carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" in the lines "Now bring us some figgy pudding," "We all love our figgy pudding," and "We won't go until we get some!" Figgy pudding is not plum pudding, although it can be ...

What is the superstition about Christmas pudding? ›

Superstitions say that Christmas pudding must be prepared with 13 ingredients, which are said to represent Jesus and his twelve disciples. It is also said that the mixture should be stirred in turn from east to west, by each family member, to honour the disciples' journey.

What is the real name for Christmas pudding? ›

Christmas Pudding (also known as plum pudding or figgy pudding) is a dish as famous as it is misunderstood. In America, Christmas Pudding (also known as plum pudding or figgy pudding) is a dish as famous as it is misunderstood.

What is the quote about Christmas pudding? ›

“If I could work my will," said Scrooge indignantly, "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' upon his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!”

What pudding is mentioned in the song We Wish You a Merry Christmas? ›

In the famous version of the song, the singer demands figgy pudding from the audience, threatening to not "go until we get some".

What's the difference between Christmas pudding and figgy pudding? ›

Rather than creamy puddings and custards, which Southern cooks are familiar with, this Christmas pudding dates back to medieval England and is a steamed cake full of spices, raisins, and currants soaked in brandy. If it contains figs, it is called a figgy pudding.

What does Christmas pudding mean to Christians? ›

The pudding was meant to have 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples. Often small trinkets were hidden in the mixture (a silver coin for wealth, a ring for future marriage and a thimble for spinsterhood!). The brandy poured over it and set alight represented the passion of Christ.

Who dishes up figgy pudding in A Christmas Carol? ›

One of the traditions he upheld was that of the now-iconic Christmas pudding. In a long passage, he shows Mrs. Cratchit steaming and preparing the pudding for her excited family: Suppose it should not be done enough!

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