Christmas Pud.

[faraway eyes]

For more than 50 years I or my parents have poured a pint of Cognac over our pud then set fire to it.... Why?

[Gef]

No idea. Throw the pud in the bin and drink the cognac.

[Hawkwalk]

because you like to waste cognac by turning it into an indoor firework.

[masterchef]

Mustafa deathwish I should think

[faraway eyes]

C'mon you guys. It was a serious question. I don't need jokers three in a row. You must be the pretty parcel/pint of lager Xmas brigade. Bet you don't even know why Christmas is really celebrated.
Will someone else try again, thanks.

[Athley]

We always do as well. Have set table cloth on fire too in the process. I saw on one of the cookery programmes in the week though that its better to pour vodka over the pud as it stays alight for longer. Apparently Fanny Craddock used to do that!!!

Have you asked your parents why they do it? It's a tradition that seems to get passed down but none of us know why.

Merry Christmas enjoy your pud! xx

[taichiperson]

Similar question, more sensible answer...........
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Food-and-Drink/ Eating-Out/Question318989.html

[hammerman]

By setting the alcohol soaked pud alight, it burns off all the alcohol in the booze leaving a nice xmas pudding tasting of cognac but without the alcoholic content.
I bought a cheap bottle of French brandy for mine which can also be used in other cooking i do.

I'm not sure where the actual ritual originated

[Hawkwalk]

No, just have a sense on humour!!