The Special Christmas Pudding

An English vicar tells the story of going to visit a family who had just lost a beloved aunt in the first week of Advent. In the course of the conversation, it was decided that the aunt's remains would be cremated, and the ashes sent by post to members of the family in the south of England. He wrote a letter to the vicar of that parish telling her of the arrangements.

Eventually a letter came back. "I visited the family as you suggested, and also to see if the ashes had arrived and to inquire as to how they wished to dispose of the ashes. The lady of the house was making a Christmas pudding, and explained that she had ordered a package of pre-mixed pudding which had just arrived.

I glanced at the empty package on a table behind her and realized immediately that it was not pudding mix but her aunt's ashes that she was stirring in the pot. I decided I really needed to say something, although I wasn't sure if it was the gastronomical or theological implications that concerned me most.

At any rate, all has been taken care of. We gave the Christmas pudding a good Christian committal!"