Christmas Food and Beverage Traditions Around the World
Christmas is a time of celebration, reflection, and of course, feasting. While the holiday is universally recognized, the food traditions surrounding it vary greatly across cultures. Each country adds its own flair, combining local ingredients, customs, and historical influences into a rich array of festive foods and beverages. From savory dishes to sweet treats, here’s a look at some of the most unique and cherished Christmas food traditions around the world.
1. Mexico – Bacalao a la Vizcaína, Tamales, and Ponche Navideño
In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated with an explosion of color, music, and flavor. One of the most iconic dishes is bacalao a la vizcaína, a hearty stew made from salted cod, tomatoes, olives, and capers. This dish has roots in Spain, but Mexicans have adopted it as a Christmas staple. Tamales hold a special place in Mexican Christmas traditions, embodying the warmth, togetherness, and rich cultural heritage of the holiday season. This iconic dish, made of masa (corn dough) and various fillings wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves, represents a deep-rooted connection to Mexico’s indigenous past, where tamales were offered as sacred foods to the gods. Over centuries, tamales have evolved into a symbol of celebration, resilience, and family unity. During Christmas, the preparation of tamales becomes a collective activity, often involving extended family and friends. Known as a "tamalada," this festive gathering is more than a cooking session; it is a cherished ritual where stories are shared, bonds are strengthened, and traditions are passed down through generations.
Ponche navideño (Christmas punch) is a warm, spiced beverage made with fruits such as guava, tamarind, and tejocote (a local fruit), flavored with cinnamon and cloves, often spiked with rum or brandy.
2. Finland – Joulupöytä (Christmas Table) and Glögi
In Finland, the Christmas feast, called joulupöytä, is a carefully curated spread of cold and hot dishes. The table is usually laden with roasted meats (often ham), pickled vegetables, and a variety of casseroles, with lanttulaatikko (rutabaga casserole) and perunalaatikko (potato casserole) being traditional. For dessert, joulutorttu (Christmas tarts) filled with plum jam are a favorite. To warm up on cold Finnish winter nights, glögi, a spiced mulled wine often mixed with almonds, raisins, and vodka, is a popular holiday drink.
3. Italy – Feast of the Seven Fishes and Panettone
In Italy, Christmas Eve is marked by the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a tradition that involves serving seven different types of fish and seafood. Dishes vary by region, but popular choices include baccalà (salted cod), shrimp, clams, and squid. The holiday also wouldn’t be complete without a slice of panettone, a sweet, fluffy bread loaf studded with dried fruits and candied peel. Originating from Milan, this cake is often served with a glass of spumante (Italian sparkling wine) or paired with coffee.
4. **Poland – Wigilia Dinner and Kompot z Suszu
In Poland, Christmas Eve is marked by the Wigilia dinner, a meal that traditionally consists of 12 meatless dishes to represent the 12 apostles. Common dishes include barszcz (beet soup) with uszka (dumplings), pierogi (dumplings filled with mushrooms, cabbage, or potatoes), and carp (often served fried or in jelly). For dessert, makowiec, a poppy seed roll, and kutia, a sweet grain dish with honey and nuts, are served. To drink, kompot z suszu, a fruity, spiced beverage made from dried fruits like apples, pears, and prunes, is enjoyed.
5. Japan – KFC Christmas Feast and Strawberry Shortcake
While Christmas is not a traditional holiday in Japan, it has become a popular occasion for feasting, especially among families and couples. One of the most unusual traditions is eating KFC for Christmas dinner. In the 1970s, the fast-food chain launched a marketing campaign that made fried chicken synonymous with Christmas in Japan. Alongside the chicken, many families enjoy a festive strawberry shortcake, a light, fluffy sponge cake topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. This sweet treat has become so iconic that it is almost as essential as the chicken.
6. Sweden – Julbord and Glögg
Swedes celebrate Christmas with a lavish julbord, or "Christmas table," filled with an array of pickled herring, cured salmon, meats like ham and meatballs, and a variety of breads and cheeses. One standout dish is janssons frestelse, a creamy casserole made with potatoes, onions, anchovies, and breadcrumbs. To drink, Swedes enjoy glögg, a mulled wine spiced with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and orange zest. It’s often served with almonds and raisins floating in the cup.
7. Ethiopia – Doro Wat and T'ej
In Ethiopia, Christmas, known as Genna, is celebrated on January 7th according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church calendar. The festive meal revolves around doro wat, a spicy chicken stew cooked with hard-boiled eggs, berbere spice mix, and niter kibbeh (clarified spiced butter). This dish is usually served with injera, a sourdough flatbread. For a traditional drink, Ethiopians sip t'ej, a honey wine flavored with spices like ginger and sometimes pepper.
8. Iceland – Jólakaka and Rúgbrauð with Hákarl
In Iceland, Christmas foods reflect the country’s cold climate and agricultural heritage. A traditional treat is jólakaka, a rich, spiced Christmas cake often flavored with orange peel and cardamom. Rúgbrauð, a dense rye bread, is commonly served with butter and various meats. Some Icelandic families also include hákarl (fermented shark), an acquired taste that symbolizes the nation’s deep ties to its fishing culture. In addition, jólaöl, a Christmas beer, is a popular holiday drink.
9. Australia – Pavlova and Barbecue
In the southern hemisphere, where Christmas falls during the summer months, Australians embrace outdoor celebrations. While turkey and ham are still popular, many families opt for a Christmas barbecue, grilling sausages, prawns, and other meats. For dessert, the quintessential Christmas treat is pavlova, a meringue-based cake topped with fresh seasonal fruits like kiwi, strawberries, and passion fruit. This light and refreshing dessert is perfect for warm-weather celebrations.
10. Austria and Germany – Weihnachtsgans, Stollen, and Glühwein
In Germany, Christmas dinner often centers around weihnachtsgans (Christmas goose), which is traditionally roasted and served with red cabbage, potatoes, and gravy. For dessert, stollen, a fruit-filled bread covered in powdered sugar, is a beloved Christmas treat. The cake is often studded with marzipan and dried fruits, making it a rich, festive delicacy. To drink, Germans enjoy glühwein, a hot, spiced wine that brings warmth during the cold winter nights. Glühwein, a hot, spiced red wine, is beloved in both Austria and Germany. It’s especially popular at Christmas markets, where vendors serve this warming drink along with festive treats. The recipe usually includes cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, and sometimes a splash of brandy. Whether in the bustling streets of Vienna or Munich, it’s the perfect drink to enjoy while strolling through the holiday markets.
11. France Le Plateau de Fromages and Les Bûches de Noël
A festive meal in France often includes a cheese course, and Christmas is no exception. The plateau de fromages (cheese platter) is a key part of the Christmas dinner, often served after the main course and before dessert. A variety of French cheeses—including brie, camembert, roquefort, comté, and chèvre (goat cheese)—are typically presented with bread and sometimes fruit or nuts. No French Christmas meal is complete without the iconic bûche de Noël (Yule log), a traditional Christmas dessert that dates back to the 19th century. This dessert is a rolled sponge cake, often filled with buttercream, and shaped like a log to symbolize the wooden Yule log that was historically burned in the hearth to welcome the holiday season.
From fried chicken in Japan to hearty stews in Poland, Christmas cuisine around the world reflects diverse cultural influences and regional ingredients. Whether it’s the sweet, fragrant spices of mulled wine or the savory warmth of roast meats and casseroles, food plays an essential role in the way people celebrate this special time of year. These unique Christmas food traditions not only nourish the body but also bring people together, creating memories that last a lifetime. So, whether you're savoring a slice of panettone or sipping glögg, you’re partaking in a centuries-old tradition that continues to connect people across the globe.
