"We would all get together at Mom's house since she was the one with all the right utensils for making the pudding," says Norma.

Everyone had a role to play in the grating, chopping, mixing and cooking. At the end of the day, each family member had a Christmas pudding to take home to serve on Christmas morning.

For Norma's mother, Edna Eastman, Christmas wasn't truly Christmas without the puddings. "Some years if we missed getting together, my mother would make all the puddings up herself," says Norma.

When Edna had a stroke several years ago, the tradition lost its main motivating force and nobody had the heart to continue it.

Then this season Norma happened to mention her family's ritual at Almonte Country Haven, where Edna now lives.

The staff at the long-term care home were very interested in helping renew the tradition for Edna. "(Nutritional Care Manager) Sandy Bullock felt that we could make this happen, along with the rest of the Christmas hustle and bustle, and so we did," says Darlene Thibault, life enrichment co-ordinator at Almonte.

She notes Sandy and her staff got all of the ingredients together while Pauline Marshall, a restorative care aide, gathered some of the residents who might be interested in participating.

Five residents took part in the big event. Norma was there as well, despite the freezing rain that came down that morning.

"She (Norma) came in bright and early to get the Christmas pudding started with her mother, not wanting to break a family tradition," says Darlene.

Norma notes the residents took on the difficult task of stirring the batter. "Some of them were literally in up to their elbows," she says. "(The batter) gets quite thick at the end."

They appeared to enjoy it all, however. Edna smiled from ear to ear, according to Darlene. Earl Crawford, a former army cook, and the only male resident involved in the pudding, also seemed delighted with the task, says Norma.

"I think it's important for the resident to do something that they've done all their lives," says Norma.

The puddings were sold as a fundraiser to buy additional Christmas decorations for the home. The puddings were spoken for before they were even complete.

Darlene says making the puddings was one small way to bring a smile to a resident's face. "Every day is precious for (the residents) here," she says. "We knew how important this was to Edna, so we decided we could do it. We figured, why put off until tomorrow what we can do today?"