Christmas is a time for spending with family and friends. It’s also a time to gather around the table, enjoy tasty Christmas food and drink, and give thanks for all we have in life. But what exactly is on the menu?
With Christmas occurring at different times of year in different parts of the world, dishes vary by culture or country. Here are some traditional Christmas foods around the world:
Traditional Christmas Foods Around The World
Spain
In Spain, Christmas dinner is all about seafood. The meal typically consists of shrimp, clams, mussels, lobster, and crab. These delicious shellfish are served with various sauces like garlic mayonnaise or aioli.
Another dish that is often eaten during Spanish Christmastime is called torrijas. A type of bread pudding prepared in a deep pan and sliced before serving.
Russia
In Russia, families typically celebrate Christmas on 7th January due to an old Orthodox tradition that states it is not appropriate to observe Christmastime until after Epiphany (the visit of the Magi). On this special day, Russians eat 12 festive dishes for good luck during the next year.
Some traditional Russian Christmas meals include chicken or turkey with chestnuts, salmon pastries called kulebyaka, cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice known as sarma, and blinis – pancakes made from buckwheat flour. Sweet treats like gingerbread cookies are also enjoyed, along with lots of champagne.
Brazil
Brazilians love feasting on typical American dishes at their holiday meal, including roast beef or turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. But there is one dish that stands out from the rest – farofa!
Farofa consists of dried manioc flour sautéed with butter or other fat until golden brown. The crispy treat can be served on its own but is often used to top meats like steak, chicken, or fish during Irish Christmas eve dinner, along with hearty soups made from collard greens called couve-manteiga.
Dutch And German
The Dutch typically enjoy ham for their main course at Christmastime while Germans eat gans (turkey) instead of a traditional roasted piglet known as oma’s hendl, which was eaten in past centuries.
Other popular German Christmas food include sauerkraut soup, stuffed turkey legs, cabbage salad with bacon, and gingerbread cookies.
Christmas Is All About The Meat For Many People Around The World
For many people worldwide, Christmas dinner is synonymous with roast turkey served alongside all of the trimmings. But while some countries enjoy this popular dish on December 25th, others wait two more weeks until January the sixth to eat it during their holiday meal.
For instance, families typically serve roasted lamb in Greece or Portugal while those living in Italy dine on capon (a castrated rooster) instead of turkey for Christmastime dinner.
No matter what type of meat you prefer (whether it’s pork, beef, or chicken), chances are good that you will find a delicious traditional recipe for whatever your favorite main course might be, at least somewhere around the world.
Conclusion
So what will be on your Christmas dinner table this year? Make sure you find out from your guests what they are allergic to beforehand.
Top tip, instead of depriving everyone of the total effect your dish will have because someone is allergic to almonds. Instead, make a smaller dish without them and still make your main dish with your organic non-pareil almonds.
Whether you decide to try a new recipe or stick with a classic, be sure to enjoy spending time with family and friends while celebrating one of the most special days of the year.
Finally, my article on traditional Christmas foods around the world comes to an end; I hope you enjoyed reading it. If yes, don’t forget to share it with your loved ones.
