Introduction
The Sunday before Advent is known as ‘Stir Up Sunday’, after the opening words of a Church prayer on that day. Appropriately, it is also the day for stirring up your Christmas plum pudding.
STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Book of Common Prayer, 1549.
RICH and luxurious plum pudding was banned as “unfit for God-fearing people” by the republican Puritans in 1647, prompting riots in Kent.
Christmas celebrations returned with Charles II in 1660, and in 1714 King George I requested plum pudding for his first Christmas in England, making it fashionable once again.
Traditionally, thirteen ingredients are used, representing Christ and his Apostles. Each family member would take a turn stirring a mixture of beef suet, flour, eggs, spices, spirits, and dried fruit (‘plums’ in old-fashioned English), stirring east to west in honour of the journey of the Wise Men, and making a wish.
A silver sixpence might be tossed in too as a little surprise on Christmas Day.
On the day itself, the pudding is decorated with holly, recalling Christ’s crown of thorns, and as it is brought piping hot to the table it is doused with brandy and set alight, symbolising the fiery power of the Spirit.
Précis
Christmas plum pudding, a rich cake of dried fruit (‘plum’ is an old-fashioned word for dried fruit), brandy and spices, was banned by the party-pooping Puritans, but brought back into favour by George I. Traditionally, its making is full of Christian symbolism, and coincides with ‘Stir Up’ Sunday just before Advent. (51 / 60 words)
Christmas plum pudding, a rich cake of dried fruit (‘plum’ is an old-fashioned word for dried fruit), brandy and spices, was banned by the party-pooping Puritans, but brought back into favour by George I. Traditionally, its making is full of Christian symbolism, and coincides with ‘Stir Up’ Sunday just before Advent.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 45 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: besides, despite, if, ought, unless, until, whereas, whether.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Faith. Riot. Stirring.
2 Day. Lord. Too.
3 Decorate. Itself. May.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Book. 2 Represent. 3 Bring. 4 Prompt. 5 Spirit. 6 Egg. 7 Use. 8 Work. 9 Man.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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