If the mincemeat is home made everyone in the household should stir it as it is considered to be lucky. The cases should be oval in shape, to represent the manger, with a tiny pastry baby Jesus on top, but as very few people have tins that shape they are nearly always round now. - See more at: http://www.learnenglish.de/culture/christmas.html#sthash.xUg5EIhw.dpuf