Christmas is the biggest event in the world because it is the most celebrated festival by the world largest's religion, which is Christianity. Christmas is the day Christians believe the Son of God, Jesus Christ was born. It is the significance of love and salvation when they gather to commemorate this day. Even non-Christians like to celebrate Christmas, because it has turned into a tradition of gift-exchange and feasting.
Coinciding with the end of year holidays in 25 December, this also marks the last week of festivities before the New Year begins. What better way to celebrate than with amazing food and delicious snacks!
Here are some interesting food enjoyed around the world during Christmas:
1) Turkey - UK/ US
Turkish people do not celebrate Christmas and do not celebrate with this juicy piece of meat but in the UK and US, more than 9 million turkeys are consumed during this festival. In Austria and Germany, goose and carp are actually more commonly served. Typical side dishes include potato salad, brussels sprouts or sausages.
Source: Food Channel
2) Cured Meat - Philippines
In the Philippines, Christmas ham, often referred to as "hamon," is a beloved holiday tradition taken during Noche Buena. Lechon (Roasted pork) is also popular and is the most iconic dishes in Filipino cuisin. This stems from the Spanish tradition of enjoying ham and cured meats during their colonization.
Typically, the meat are marinated with lot of spices and coconut milk and cooked over charcoal for several hours. The meat is consumed with turmeric rice and papaya salad and enjoyed by the whole family.
Source: Tesco Real Food
3) Panettone - Italy
You would expect lot of meat based on today's standards but in Italy, the big feast on Christmas Eve must not contain meat. Italians will take fish or seafood instead as this stems from a Roman Catholic tradition to abstain from eating meat and purify the body before the religious celebration. On Christmas day, the Italians can enjoy anything they want including meat, pasta and cheese and Panettone is enjoyed after the meal.
Panettone is a kind of sweet cake and takes several day for the proofing process and giving it a fluffy and citrusy flavours from the toppings. It is a popular gift during the holiday season as they are beautifully packaged and able to store for a longer period of time.
4) Pavlova - Australia/New Zealand
Pavlova is a staple in Australia with the dessert primarily topped with whipped cream and fruits. It has a soft, marshmallow-like interior and crispy meringue exterior. It is easy to prepare in advance and refreshingly light for the Australian's Christmas summer.
5) Turron - Spain
Turrón is a traditional Spanish confection dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have been influenced by the Arab presence, incorporating nuts and honey into sweets. The primary ingredients typically include nuts with almonds the most common, honey, sugar and egg whites for the texture.
Turrón is packaged nicely as a gift and this joy of sharing delicious sweets during festive occasion is what means Christmas so special.
Source: Everyday Food Blog
6) Christmas Pudding - English
Christmas pudding used to be savory dish made with meat and spices but has evolved into the sweet dessert we know today. They are made from dried fruits, nuts, spices and molasses. The pudding is steamed for several hours, giving it a rich and dense texture before allowing the flavours to rest a few weeks.
This dessert is typically served warm, often accompanied by brandy sauce, custard, or cream. It’s common to hide a silver coin in the pudding as finding it is said to bring good luck for the year ahead.
Source: Taylor's
7) Fried Chicken - Japan
How can we miss out on KFC for Christmas for the Japanese? It’s common for families to order KFC as part of their festive meal, often considering it a special treat. Who could have predicted the success of the marketing campaign called "Kentucky for Christmas" could have set a tradition here.
KFC’s role in Christmas celebrations in Japan showcases a unique cultural phenomenon, transforming a fast-food chain into a holiday tradition that brings families together.
Source: CNN Travel
8) bûche de Noël - France
In France, the traditional Christmas log cake is called "bûche de Noël." It symbolizes the Yule log, which was traditionally burned in the fireplace during the winter solstice. The cake is shaped like a log, often featuring a textured surface that mimics tree bark. It is usually dusted with powdered sugar to resemble snow and decorated with festive elements like meringue mushrooms and candied fruits.
Dulce de leche also deserves a special mention as it is just milk with sugar and is sometimes added to log cakes for a rich, decadent taste. In Singapore, we have the durian and pandan version for log cakes.
Source: Pastry Mart
9) Cookies - Everywhere
We have many different types of cookies and pastries from all over the world. The most popular ones are the Gingerbread Cookies from USA, where it is adorned with Christmas designs and shapes. Pepparkakor are eaten in Sweden which are essentially like the Gingerbread Cookies.
Koulourakia in Greece are butter cookies that have a rich, buttery flavor and a crisp texture on the outside, while remaining soft inside. They are most commonly shaped in braids and eaten during Easter and Christmas.
Source: Joulutorttu from Wikipedia
As long as the cookies are aesthetically pleasing and sweet, they are suitable for the Christmas season. Joulutorttu from Finland are shaped into stars and made from puff pastry filled with pastry jam. All the way in Argentina, Alfajores are cookies filled with dulce de leche and often rolled in coconut or powdered sugar.
10) Eggnog - USA
Granted this is a drink but eggnog is such a special holiday beverage. Made from beaten eggs, which give it a rich, creamy texture. Whole milk and heavy cream are added to make it rich and sweetened with sugar and cinnamon. They can be chilled ahead of time and modern vegan variations have nut milk or coconut cream instead.
