Around the world, Christmas Day is a time when people chomp their way through all sorts of weird and wonderful festive fare and each country has its own particular “must-have” for every table. Here’s a small selection.
In a few European countries, the main Christmas meal is celebrated on Christmas Eve – Dec. 24, and ne’er a slice of turkey can be found. This “meatless” custom dates back from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstinence.
In Italy, for example, most families celebrate the season on Christmas Eve in favor of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, also known as La Vigilia, where meals of fish and other seafood are served. A delicacy of fried eel is the star of the show. Struffoli and Panettone are favored as sweet treats.
In Poland, people tuck into an enormous vegetarian banquet called Wigilia, or the Star Supper, eating dishes such as borscht and dumplings. In Portugal, dried and salted codfish is a tradition on Christmas Eve served with boiled cabbage, potatoes and other vegetables.
Filipinos celebrate with a pre-hispanic tradition known as Noche Buena held around midnight on Christmas Eve after the Midnight Mass.
Brazil’s Christmas feast, also served on Dec. 24 includes platters of ham, roast turkey, roast pork and fish. Cured pork with a round of Edam cheese called quest de bola is the staple of the dinner and often served with pasta.
In France, the Réveillon is the late supper that happens on Christmas Eve, or early on Christmas Day soon after Midnight Mass and includes roast turkey with chestnuts or goose, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison and various cheeses.
France and Scotland, who share close ties, celebrate with Bûche de Noël, a yule log cake, the iconic image of Christmas. Not commonly known in the US, Christmas Day in Scotland only became a public holiday in 1958, and Boxing Day (when the English open their gifts) in 1974. The Scots prefer to celebrate the New Year’s Eve festivity, called Hogmanay, which is still a large celebration in Scotland.
Germany enjoys roast goose with potato salad, red cabbage and sausages. Stollen is their favorite sweet treat.
Mincemeat pies, which do not contain meat, are popular in England, Ireland and Wales. These bite-sized treats are one of the most versatile of Christmas desserts and can be served with brandy custard, fresh cream or ice cream.
Portugal celebrates Christmas with cake — Bolo Rei — the king cake. Named in commemoration of the Magi, king cake is made with nuts and crystallized fruit.
Much of the Christmas Day tradition in the Americas has been adopted from Europe but because Dec. 25 is so close to America’s huge Thanksgiving celebration, the usual turkey entreé has been replaced with ham, beef, lamb, goose, duck or seafood. Canada also enjoys British traditions with a smattering of French and German dishes.
Mexico boasts a quite different favorite dish of salt cod called Bacalao flavored with lots of spices and vegetables, as do Scandinavian countries.
Greenland and Iceland eat mattak — a tough, fatty strip of whale blubber encased in whale skin. Sweden, on the other hand, loves its meatballs made with beef, onions and allspice in a sour cream gravy.
In Japan, and Americans will love this, KFC fried chicken is the favorite. Reservations are required months in advance at the favorite fast-food chain. The Japanese also favor a sweet white sponge cake with cream and strawberries.
The season in Australia comes during one of the hottest months so Christmas is sometimes celebrated at the beach or a picnic with barbecues of grilled steak and fresh seafood. Pavlova or English trifle are the desserts of choice.
Regardless of your heritage or on which day Christmas is celebrated, the common theme throughout the world is the importance role food plays in our traditions.