What Christmas Food Looks Like Around The World
By Juliet Smith
2 years ago
Argentina - Vitel toné (veal)
Image Source/ The Daily MealCelebrating with a Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, the Argentinians enjoy suckling pig, mince pies and vitel toné (which is sliced veal topped with tuna-mayonnaise). Given it's usually summer during Christmas in Argentina, most of this food is cooked over a barbecue.Australia - Pavlova and prawns
Image Source/ World Nomads AdventuresThe Australians know how to celebrate with a great Christmas dinner. In the height of their summer, they make sure to enjoy fresh garden salads, roasted chicken, and the iconic Australian fruit-topped Pavlova. The main staple is the prawns, you name it, they have it: tiger prawns, banana prawns, king prawns.Chile - Cola de mono
Image Source/ 196 FlowersChristmas dinner in Chile sees people gather round the table on Christmas Eve to enjoy turkey, vegetables and potatoes, washed down with red wine. They also have a Christmas-themed drink for afterwards, cola de mono (which means tail of the monkey) made with aguardiente, coffee, milk and sugar.Colombia - Buñuelos
Image Source/ Una Colombiana en CaliforniaColombians have a specific traditional dessert they indulge in around Christmas, known as buñuelos. The tasty sweets are balls of queso fresco, battered in cornflour and fried in oil. You'll also see the Colombians let loose on natilla (custard) and hojuelas (pastries flavoured with orange juice).Cuba - Roasted pig and fried plantains
Image Source/ Do You Really Know What You're Eating?Similar to other Latin American countries, Cuba celebrate with a Christmas feast on Christmas Eve, or Noche Buena as they call it. Their dinner features staples of their traditional dishes, including black beans and rice, but with more luxurious foods to like roasted pig, plantain with rice pudding and rum cake for after.Czechia - Mushroom kuba
Image Source/ Dobrehouby.euThe Czechs know how to prepare for their Christmas dinner, only munching on sweet Christmas bread up until their evening feast. For starters, they'll have fish soup or mushroom kuba (which is essentially a risotto made from barley), with their main course including carp and potato salad.Denmark - Risengrød and à l’amande (rice pudding)
Image Source/ Adamant KitchenThe Danish love a bit of roast duck and goose on their Christmas dinner accompanied by red cabbage, boiled potatoes, and gravy. For afters, they'll be enjoying à l’amande and risengrød which is cold or hot rice pudding, completed with whipped cream, almonds, vanilla, and hot cherry sauce.Egypt - Faatah
Image Source/ FreepikWhile Egyptians celebrate with dinner on Christmas Eve, they don't celebrate until 6th January as they follow the Coptic calendar. Faatah is a traditional Egyptian dish served at big events, which includes Christmas and a woman's first birth. It's layers of rice and fried break, with lamb or beef meat, and poached eggs.Ethiopia - Doro Wat On Injera (meat stew)
Image Source/ YouTubeSomething that might be considered quite strange in the Ethiopian Christmas dinner is the spice level. A spicy meat stew is served with a spongy, bread-like accompaniment. The denseness of the stew is balanced out by the lightness of the bread served with it.Finland - Joulupöytä (yule table)
Image Source/ YLEIf you took a trip to Helsinki at Christmas time, you'll feast upon the Joulupöytä, the yule table. You'll be able to feast on an array of casseroles, pâtés, and fish dishes, with rutabaga casserole, beet salad, and a baked ham being the absolute necessities for a Joulupöytä.France - Oysters
Image Source/ The Local FranceMore typically known as Le Réveillon, Christmas dinner in France is accompanied by an array of traditional delacices. You might see oysters, foie gras, roasted turkey, many cheeses and bûche de Noël for dessert. If you're in Provence, they will enjoy 13 desserts at Christmas to symbolise Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles.Germany - Krustenbraten (roast pork)
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Image Source/ Essen & ThinkenUnlike many of their European counterparts, the Germans limit themselves to a smaller dinner on Christmas Eve so that they can fully indulge in their feast on Christmas Day. You'll find goose, duck, rabbit, and Krustenbraten, which is a roast pork with a crispy rind.Greece - Chicken Soup Avgolemono
Image Source/ My Greek DishThe Greeks eat their festive meal on the 25th December, much like most European countries. A traditional and must-have staple of any Greek household table on Christmas day will be chicken soup avgolemono, which is chicken soup with lemon, egg and rice.Hungary - Beigli (pastry)
Image Source/ Ingmar appAlthough the various Hungarian provinces have their own traditions for Christmas dinner, the same staples are enjoyed widely throughout Hungary. This includes, carp soup, stuffed cabbage, fried fish, all before their dessert beigli, which is a pastry stuffed with chestnuts or poppy seeds.Iceland - Kjötsúpa (meat broth)
Image Source/ Mbl.isIt was a tradition for wealthier families to eat kjötsúpa on their Christmas Day, which was slaughtered lamb cooked in a meat broth. For those poorer, they would eat ptarmigan, which was grouse. However, since times have changed, ptarmigan is more widely enjoyed as a Christmas delicacy.India - Kidiyo (dough balls)
Image Source/ APK PureIn the Christian communities of India, they celebrate with kuswar, a range of Christmas sweets. While that includes traditional cookies and fruitcakes, they also enjoy kidiyo, which is deep fried dough balls dusted with icing sugar. They also indulge in cardamom and cashew macaroons.Italy - La Vigilia or Feast of the Seven Fishes
Image Source/ Mamma Mia Ristorante PizzeriaAs the name suggests, the Italians eat a lot of fresh fish on Christmas. Among the seven fishes is octopus, anchovies, salt cod, clams, eel, and shellfish. However, traditionally, the dinner would've just consisted of capitone (which is eel). They also have a little bit of pasta!Jamaica - Curry goat
Image Source/ PinterestA Jamaican Christmas dinner will see all the stops pulled out to create an inviting atmosphere. You will find yourself eating curry goat as the main course, but with roast beef, chicken stew, or curry chicken as other options on the table. These are accompanied by rice and peas, with rum punch as your drink.Lithuania - Kūčiukai (poppy-seed biscuits)
Image Source/ WikipediaThe Lithuanian Christmas feast includes 12 dishes, all of them meatless. You'll find the table dotted with carrots, beets, apples, mushrooms, saurekraut and dumplings. On Christmas Eve they indulge in kūčiukai which is a poppy-seed biscuit washed down with poppy-seed milk.Madagascar - Akoho Sy Voanio
Image Source/ TasteAtlasThe Madagascans like their stews, which is why it comes as no surprise to hear that that's what they enjoy on their Christmas day dinner. They will tuck into Akoho Sy Voanio, a traditional Madagascan dish, which is a chicken-coconut stew poured onto rice.Mexico - Chiles En Nogada
Image Source/ Culture TripUtilising peppers is common in Mexico and can't be missed from their Christmas dinner. The Mexicans celebrate with Chiles En Nogada, which is a meat-stuffed fire-roasted poblano pepper, smothered in a walnut sauce and pomegranate seed garnish.New Zealand - Lamb and pavlova
Image Source/ Culture TripA Christmas dinner in New Zealand will see lamb barbecued or roasted using an underground pit oven, known as Maori hangi. This will be accompanied by mixed vegetables, stuffing, and potatoes at the table. Like their Australian counterparts, the Kiwis enjoy eating Pavlova for dessert.Philippines - Sweet spaghetti
Image Source/ Food.comThe Filipino Christmas dinner sees ham sweetened with honey laid out on the table, alongside roasted pig with a caramelised skin, baked chicken stuff with meat and onion, and ox tripe. They'll also enjoy sweet spaghetti, topped with sweetened tomato sauce.Poland - Wigilia Feast
Image Source/ Local LifeWith Christmas dinner being held on Christmas Eve in Poland, they traditionally enjoyed 12 rounds of meatless dishes, which represented the 12 apostles. Since times have changed, the dishes vary depending on the amount of guests, which includes soups, carp, herring, and pierogi.Portugal - Salt Cod
Image Source/ Portuguese RecipesPortugal abide by the Catholic tradition of fasting over Christmas Eve, breaking the fast with Consoada, the first meal of Christmas Day. The iconic bacalhau, salt cod, is the centrepiece of the Portuguese Christmas dinner, with certain regions enjoying octopus with rice.Romania - Flick (pork)
Image Source/ Be the Best NannyThe Romanians have many traditional dishes that are serves on Christmas. With a concentration on pork, the Romanians enjoy flick (pork leg in aspic dish) and a hearty pork stew. They eat the pork with homemade pickles and a sweet bread, cozonac.Spain - Turrón
Image Source/ the Sunday BakerEnjoying a big feast on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Spanish do really love their foods. While it is traditional to have seafood as a staple on your Christmas dinner, the people of Spain are big on roast turkey too. For afters, they will have turrón, a kind of nougat.Sweden - Smörgåsbord (Christmas table)
Image Source/ WiktionarySmörgåsbord, also known as Julbord (Christmas table) is the Swedish buffet, often served in three courses. You'll find traditional dishes like herring, lutfisk (salt cod), Christmas ham, and roast lamb with sides like potatoes, cabbage and beets to accompany.UK - Turkey and pigs in blankets
Image Source/ The English KitchenIf you find yourself in the UK at Christmas time, you'll definitely want to try an authentic Christmas dinner. Your plate will be piled with turkey, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, Brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and gravy. Sometimes you'll even find a Yorkshire pudding.US - Ham and turkey
Image Source/ WikipediaAn American Christmas dinner resembles that of their Thanksgiving dinner. Served on the table. there will be choices of ham or turkey with stuffing, vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy. For dessert, there'll be cookies and all kinds of pies.Switzerland - Meat In Bouillon Soup
Image Source / Slow Cooker Society.comA Swiss Christmas includes lots of meat, but this time it's pieces of meat stuck on the end of a very long fork, which is then dipping into a big pot of bouillon soup, which also cooks the meat. This is then served with french fries, or even potato chips, with sauces to go along with the meat.Venezuela - Hallacas
Image Source / Slow Cooker Society.comHallacas is a dish which includes dough stuffed with meat, and this is what you can expect on the Christmas table in Venezuela, alongside roasted pork or turkey, bread stuffed with Christmas ham, olives, raisins and a chicken salad served up with potatoes, peas and carrots. A chocolate cake with fruit soaked in rum for dessert finishes it off!Barbados - Meat In Sugar And Pineapple Juice
Image Source / I Heart RecipesThis delicious Christmas feast from Barbados sees meat like turkey or ham served with a sweet potato pie, sugar and pineapple juice - the perfect combination of savoury and sweet! You can also expect sides like rice, salads, peas and even American-style stuffing. Bajan rum black cake is served up for dessert.Botswana - Fried Chicken And Rice
Image Source / Slow Cooker Society.comFor Christmas in Botswana, expect a serving of fried chicken, rice and salad. It may sound like something you'd happily have for dinner every day, but this is considered an important meal because it's served at celebrations like weddings and parties as well as Christmas.Guatemala - Tamales
Image Source / Slow Cooker Society.comThe tamales served up on a Guatemalan Christmas are either black or white and red. The black ones offer a sweet option, while the red ones offer a savory option. Tamales are dough filled with various things, like meat or sweeter ingredients. The tamales are usually enjoyed around midnight, before fireworks are set off in celebration!The Netherlands - Mini Meats
Image Source / Slow Cooker Society.comThe Netherlands celebrate Christmas with gourmet food, where most families have an official 'gourmet' cooking set at home, including small pans to arrange on the dinner table. Mini options of a variety of foods are then served, like small sausages or burgers, or small pieces of fish.Norway - Meat In Viking Tradition
Image Source / Slow Cooker Society.comA lot of Christmas food in Norway comes from Viking traditions. One of these is cod placed in lye so that it can turn into a jelly-like substance and served up with melted butter and bacon. Meats are also served, like lamb head or lamb rib, and for sweet options, cookies are traditional in this country - and normally homemade!Russia - Meat And Fish
Image Source / Slow Cooker Society.comIn Russia, Christmas is actually celebrated at the beginning of January, and called 'Orthodox Christmas'. The food for this celebration is usually lots of meat and fish. Traditional dishes included stuffed goose, pork with apples and cabbage and fish, rice and egg pie.Slovakia - Potato Salad And Sauerkraut
Image Source / Slow Cooker Society.comIn this country, a tasty potato salad is served up with mayonnaise, breaded fish or breaded meat and pickles. You can also expect sauerkraut made into a soup, served with sausages and smoked pork.Japan - KFC
Image Source / TripAdvisorYep, apparently what the Japanese want more than anything around Christmas is a big bucket of fried chicken! On Christmas Eve especially, KFC sees around 3.6 million people served up with fried chicken. The food chain even has to take Christmas chicken orders weeks in advance due to the demand.South Africa - Caterpillars Or Worms
Image Source / Flight CentreYep! So think about that the next time you complain about eating a Brussels sprout. At Christmas, South Africans will tuck into Emperor Moth Caterpillars or Mopane worms that have been fried. This delicacy provides a lot of protein, too, apparently. But this isn't the only thing they eat - it's alongside a more classic Christmas meal of roast meat and veg!Greenland - Mattak
Image Source / TwitterMattak is a dish that includes strips of whale or narwhal skin - blubber included - which is then chopped up into bitesize chunks... and eaten raw. If this doesn't sound like your kinda dish, there's also the Christmas delicacy of Kiviak, which is the flesh of an auk (a small arctic bird) that's stuffed inside the skin of a seal. This is then buried to let it ferment.China - Apples
Image Source / China DailyApples are a tradition at Christmas in China, to be eaten on Christmas Eve. Lots of shops will sell apples wrapped in colourful paper to make the perfect gift, too. Christmas Eve in Chinese is called "Ping'an Ye" (peaceful evening), and the word for apple in Madarin is "píngguǒ", which sounds like peace!Costa Rica - Tamales
Image Source / Mexican PleaseEvery family in Costa Rica will have their own personal recipe for how to make tamales at Christmas time. It's also a traditional Christmas gift in this country. The tamales are made up of meat that has been seasoned and then stuffed and rolled up in cornmeal dough. It's then placed in banana leaves and steamed.Austria - Fried Carp
Image Source / TastyCraze.comA tradition for Austrian Christmasses is fried carp. It's also popular to eat roast turkey on Christmas, too. For dessert, there's a staple to be enjoyed, which is Sachertote: a cake flavoured with chocolate and apricot that's a traditional holiday treat!Ukraine - 12 Traditional Dishes
Image Source / Polish FoodiesUkrainians enjoy not one, but 12 traditional dishes at Christmas time. In this country, Christmas is actually celebrated in early January, and the 12 dishes to be enjoyed at this time include dumplings with cabbage and potatoes, sweet grain pudding (kutia) and borscht beet soup.Armenia - Pumpkin Dish
Image Source / CakeResumeLike a lot of other Eastern Orthodox countries, Armenia is one to celebrate Christmas in early January instead of December. During this time, the Armenian Christmas dinner will include a special pumpkin meal called ghapama, which is pumpkin stuffed full of rice, nuts, honey and raisins and then roasted.Lebanon - Meat Stuffed With Rice
Image Source / Syrian CookingIn Lebanon, turkey or chicken is traditionally stuffed with spiced rice, but there's more food to enjoy during a Lebanese Christmas! This includes kibbeh pie, which is made from minced meat and bulgur wheat, and you can also enjoy mezze dishes of veg and hummus alongside lamb.Brazil - Turkey And Stollen
Image Source / The Fresh LoafIn Brazil, their Christmas dinner table will be served up with turkey and fruit, delicious accompaniments like salted cod, potato salad and kale, along with rice and nuts. For dessert, they enjoy the German influence of stollen, a fruit cake.Israel - Latkes
Image Source / Wikipedia
For Hanukkah, the people of Israel will celebrate with latkes, which is a traditional fried potato pancake. The pancake is cooked in oil, a recognition of the Second Temple keeping the Menorah burning for eight days with oil. Celebrations can also include fried donuts and fritters!
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