It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the best part is getting to indulge in all the delectable goodies that make Christmas so exceptional. From Russia across the pond to the United States, everyone’s Christmas food customs are fun, festive, and unique. Explore ten different countries and their flavourful Christmas food traditions that make them so special this time of year.

 

The United States

 

Let’s start our journey to tantalize the taste buds in the good old USA. After the Christmas tree has been festively flocked, the stockings hung by the chimney with care, and the cookies and milk left for Santa Claus, it’s time to feast! 

 

Turkey

Many American families celebrate the holiday with a table that resembles that of a lavish Thanksgiving spread. It’s very common for turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing to make a second appearance during their Christmas bash. 

 

Cookies

Many Americans also capture the holiday spirit by baking homemade sugar cookies in the shapes of candy canes, Christmas trees, and more festive configurations. They then decorate them with frosting and other confections to add to all the merriment. Another fun American Christmas pastime is making gingerbread houses with the kids. Building the gingerbread houses is more about making memories than it is about eating them. It’s also fun to display them in the house for the added holiday decoration.

 

 

Canada

 

O Canada, how we love all of the delicious dishes that come from America’s northernmost neighbour! While we can’t help but fixate on poutine and all of its velvety gravy and cheese curdy goodness, alas, it’s not part of a typical Canadian Christmas feast. Have no fear; there are plenty of other outstanding dishes that make the cut! 

 

Tourtière   

The French have a heavy influence on many dishes found in Canadian culture. A tourtière is a rich and meaty pie consisting of chicken, pork, or even rabbit. The filling varies greatly based on location. The crust is buttery and flaky like a delicious pie crust should be. There are also a wide variety of toppings that Canadians like to adorn their tourtière with. Anything from ketchup to compotes and even maple syrup can serve as a condiment. No matter how you slice this meat pie, it makes a great entree at any Canadian Christmas feast.

 

Bûche de Noël

For a sweet treat and a stunning presentation, the Bûche de Noël, otherwise known as the yule log, is a Canadian Christmas classic. It resembles an actual log you would put on the fire, except this one is much tastier. It’s comprised of a chocolate sponge cake rolled up and filled with sweet cream. It’s then topped with chocolate buttercream and covered with chocolate shavings. The chocolate shavings resemble bark, and the final touch is a dusting of powdered sugar to look like snow. It’s a truly festive dessert that captures the Christmas spirit!

 

 

Mexico

 

Tamales

It wouldn’t be a Christmas celebration in Mexico without tamales on the table. Tamales are made from corn masa stuffed with anything from vegetables, meat, cheese, and even sweet versions containing fruit and raisins. They’re then wrapped with leaves and steamed to perfection. Tamale recipes are so sacred and unique that they are often passed down from generation to generation to continue the tradition.  

 

 

Russia

 

Anytime Russians gather together around a table, it always feels like a party! Even the most casual gatherings turn into a feast for the senses, and the Christmas holiday is no exception. The food options seem endless, the drinks flow like water, and the celebratory toasts keep coming. It’s truly a very special thing to be a part of. 

 

Olivier Salad

Салат Оливье (Olivier Salad), is their version of a delectable potato salad. This spectacular salad contains perfectly cubed potatoes, carrots, peas, hard-boiled eggs, pickles, mayonnaise, and diced bologna-like meat. It’s not your grandma’s potato salad! That is, of course, unless you grew up in a Russian household. 

 

Piroshki

Another Russian favourite is the пирожки́ (piroshki). These delectable little fluffy, doughy delights are either baked or fried and typically stuffed with ground meat or cabbage. You won’t be able to eat just one! The handheld buns are packed with savoury goodness on the inside and a golden-brown crust on the outside. It’s Russian comfort food at its finest!

 

Pelmeni

We could go on all day about the seemingly limitless amount of tasty Russian dishes, so we will leave you with this last one, пельмень (pelmeni). These meat-filled dumplings are equivalent to Italian ravioli. Depending on where in Russian you find them, they can be stuffed with beef, pork, and even a medley of vegetables. Traditionally the Russians will boil them until they float and serve them with white distilled vinegar and sour cream on the side for dipping. Of course, these versatile dumplings can be served in a soup as well. 

 

 

Italy

 

Fishes

It’s very typical for Italians to eat only fish and no meat on Christmas Eve. This is because most Italians follow the Catholic faith, which forbids eating meat before a religious holiday. For Italians, it’s essential to have a wide variety of different types of fish and a mixture of different cooking methods to prepare them. Anything from fried calamari to whole roasted fish, salted cod (baccalà), and of course, an array of pasta sauteed with a melange of different marine life will appear at the feast. If you have ever heard of the feast of the seven fishes, it’s more representative of how Italian-Americans feast the night before Christmas. The significance of the number seven relates to the catholic religion once again. 

 

Panettone

On Christmas day, Italians celebrate with another elaborate meal that includes different meats, cheeses, pasta, and more. They also make sure to end on a sweet note with the famous panettone. It’s a sweet bread sprinkled with dried fruits like raisins and orange peels, and it makes the perfect treat to end such an elaborate meal.  

 

 

France

 

The French add a touch of class to everything they do, and their elegant Christmas spread truly displays that. Similar to the Italians, the French partake in midnight mass on Christmas Eve. However, once they return from church, the real festivities begin. This celebration is referred to as “Le Réveillon”, which means “waking”. They affectionately call it this because the party carries on well into the early morning hours.   

 

Appetizers

Parisians start their celebration with delectable goodies like exceptional caviar served on blinis (cute little pancakes) with a dollop of crème fraîche. Oysters on the half shell are another outstanding appetizer frequently served. With the oysters, a complimentary sauce of shallots and vinegar referred to as a mignonette is served. Escargot is also added to the appetizer mix. These mouth-watering mollusks are broiled with a plethora of garlic and butter to make them a vibrant and delicious addition to the celebration.   

 

Main Course

When it comes to the main course, Parisians truss up a turkey similar to Americans. 

It’s very common for the turkey to be served with chestnut stuffing and Brussels sprouts on the side. The French also have some of the best cheeses in the world. So it’s no surprise that a cheese course follows right after the main meal. Brie cheese is sure to make an appearance!

 

 

Japan

 

KFC

The Japanese celebrate their Christmas holiday in a very different and unique way from the rest of the world. Colonel Sanders tends to be the guest of honour. That’s right! Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is the go-to food for Christmas in Japan. It’s so popular that it’s encouraged to place your order two months in advance since the crispy crunch chicken sells out so fast.   

 

Wagashi 

Wagashi is a classic Japanese dessert that can be green tea or red bean flavoured. These little edible works of art are typically made from plant-based ingredients such as red bean paste, rice flour, and sesame paste. They are beautifully handcrafted for the season into different shapes like reindeer, Christmas trees, and snowmen.

 

 

Spain

 

Entremeses

Entremeses simply means hors d’oeuvres in Spanish. Some of the typical appetizers you would expect to see around this festive time of year include an elaborate charcuterie board. The board typically consists of meats and cheeses, including chorizo, ham, and a blood sausage called morcilla. One of the classic Spanish cheeses sure to be present is Manchego. Who wouldn’t love to graze on a feast like that?

 

Cochinillo Asado

An absolutely impressive piece to the Spanish Christmas feast is the Cochinillo Asado, also known as a roast suckling pig. The whole pig is presented with its browned crispy crackling skin on an aromatic bed of onions and potatoes. It’s an absolute feast for the senses!

 

 

England

 

Yorkshire Pudding

Yorkshire pudding is not a pudding at all (at least the way Americans think of it). It bakes up like a popover and is not sweet or dessert-like in any way. It is, however, a fantastic side dish that can be used as a bread roll to mop up any of the good bits left on the plate after the turkey and trimmings are gone.

 

 

Australia

 

All Things Grilled

It’s the peak summer season in Australia during Christmas. So, it makes sense that the food prepared during this time reflects the warm weather. Prawns are a massive hit for Aussies during Christmas. Prawns look like large shrimp and can be served cold like a shrimp cocktail or thrown on the barbie, aka the grill. It’s also common to grill lamb sausages, and most importantly, Aussies are sure to wash it all down with a cold refreshing beer.