Germans enjoy the dessert stollen, a combination of dried fruits and almond flour, while Poles savor braised cabbage, and Romanians indulge in meatball soup during Christmas.
Since the early 20th century, Venezuelans have had the tradition of eating stuffed ham bread decorated with raisins and green olives each Christmas. (Photo: Angelines Concepción García).
Koutia is the traditional Christmas Eve dish in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. If meat is not available, it is replaced with a mixture of wheat grains and poppy seeds combined with raisins, honey, and crushed walnuts. This dish can be eaten cold and is served as the first dish on Christmas Eve. (Photo: Oleg Doroshenko).
Sachertorte, associated with Austrian pastry chef Franz Sacher from 1832 when he was only 16 years old, is a chocolate gateau with a smooth apricot jam layer and covered in chocolate cream, becoming a culinary symbol of Austria, especially enjoyed during Christmas. (Photo: cokemomo).
Stollen, whose full name is Christollen, is a dessert that combines dried fruits with almond flour. This characteristic cake from Germany has a long history dating back to the 14th century. (Photo: Eugène Bochkarev).
Christmas in Finland certainly must include Porkkanalaatikko. This traditional Finnish dish consists of rice, milk, and carrots. (Photo: Alesksander Mychko).
Hangikjöt from Iceland means “hanging meat”. This smoked lamb dish is sliced thin and served hot or cold with potatoes covered in béchamel sauce and peas. (Photo: Aleksander Mychko).
Hungarians cannot celebrate Christmas without Beigli, a pastry made from poppy seeds. Every Hungarian family prides itself on having the best recipe in the world. (Photo: mdorottya).
Bibingka is a rice cake cooked with coconut milk or cream wrapped in banana leaves. This is a traditional Christmas dish in the Philippines often enjoyed during family gatherings. (Photo: Kim Namhwi).
Romanians typically serve meatball soup during Christmas. This soup has a slightly sour flavor, simmering meatballs and cooked rice. (Photo: sebalos).
Bigos is a traditional Polish dish served on the 25th. It is a braised cabbage dish made with sauerkraut served with pieces of meat, honey, and mushrooms. (Photo: Lilyana Vynogradova).
The sweet bread typical of Italy is Panettone, which shares similarities with the German Stollen in having raisins and fruit preserves. The bread is served cold for breakfast or dessert. (Photo: Paulo Leandro Souza De Vilela Pinto).
Christmas pudding, a culinary symbol of England, also known as “plum pudding”, is prepared in various recipes but must include dried fruits and mutton fat (shortening). (Photo: amasory).
Weihnachtsgans (Germany): Weihnachtsgans, or Christmas goose, is a popular dish in Germany for the important end-of-year holiday. Usually, duck may be a more common food, but goose is traditionally the favorite choice among Germans during Christmas. In the cold weather, the roasted goose, warm and fragrant with tender yet firm meat, is more enticing than ever. (Photo: Eismann).
Selyodka pod shuboy (Russia): This visually appealing Russian dish has a quirky name, translating to “herring under a fur coat”. It is essentially a multi-layered salad that Russian families love during Christmas and New Year’s. Common ingredients include mayonnaise, beets, carrots, potatoes, eggs, and of course, herring. This dish is believed to have originated in the early 20th century. (Photo: Russia Beyond).
Festa dei sette pesci (Italy): In Italy, each region has its own unique Christmas dishes. However, the festa dei sette pesci, or “Feast of Seven Fishes” can be considered an important part of Christmas Eve in the boot-shaped country. This feast consists of seafood only, typically seven different types, or several types prepared in seven different ways. (Photo: Robb Report).
Barszcz (Poland): This vibrant dish, also known as red borscht, is a sour soup made with fermented ingredients. The inclusion of beets gives the dish its bright red color. This soup is often served to start Christmas feasts, and it includes uszka, meaning “little ears”, with a dough wrapper filled with wild mushrooms and finely chopped onions. (Photo: Just Be Cooking).
Risalamande (Denmark): In Denmark, Christmas seems incomplete without tasting the traditional risalamande. This dessert is a cold rice pudding with cream and finely chopped almonds, served with a tempting cherry sauce. If you don’t celebrate Christmas at a Danish person’s home, you can also find this sweet dish in restaurants. (Photo: The Daring Gourmet).
Melomakarona (Greece): Melomakarona is a type of cookie that combines flavors of orange, cinnamon, cloves, and cognac, popular in the land of mythology during the Christmas season. After baking, the cookies are soaked in a layer of sweet honey syrup and topped with crushed walnuts. (Image: Minerva Horio).
Turron (Spain): Considered a classic candy of Spain during the Christmas season, turron can be found in various forms. Essentially, it is a type of nougat made from just three basic ingredients: egg whites, sugar or honey, and nuts, typically almonds or walnuts. (Image: Spain Holiday).
Vanocka (Czech Republic): A delightful sweet bread, Vanocka is traditionally served on Christmas morning. This special bread consists of three beautiful “braids” made from stacked dough, enhanced with raisins and almonds to elevate its delicious flavor. You can enjoy Vanocka with a cup of rich hot cocoa. (Image: Prague Morning).
The traditional Christmas feast in Slovakia begins with cabbage soup, followed by the star of the evening – carp. Locals do not buy pre-packaged carp from markets or supermarkets, but rather go to specialized fishing areas to purchase them directly. You might be surprised to see Slovaks buying carp to keep in their bathtubs until Christmas.
In Costa Rica, tamales are a beloved dish during the Christmas holiday. Tamales are wrapped in banana leaves filled with meat and vegetables, resembling gifts. Throughout the holiday season, Costa Ricans gather to make tamales to share with family and friends.
Costa Ricans also celebrate Christmas with the famous eggnog cocktail. They add cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, or rum to the eggnog to create a variety of rich and delicious flavors.
In Iceland, the traditional Christmas dish is typically roasted lamb shank. This main meal is called “Yule meal”, originating from historical German festivals. Additionally, Icelanders also enjoy a local specialty on Christmas Eve – thinly rolled flatbreads. The dough is cut into delicate shapes according to preference, then fried until golden before serving.
As the sun sets, one thing shines brightly on Christmas Day in Australia. That is the BBQ party with friends, coworkers, or family gathered joyfully together. Christmas in Australia falls in the middle of summer, so the main meals often include salads and cold meats. Meanwhile, some older folks prefer traditional grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and plum pudding. However, not all Australians opt for traditional BBQ to celebrate Christmas. Some enjoy classic European-style roasts, while others prefer grilled prawns with passion fruit sauce, garnished with sage and spicy garlic, or simple modern grilled dishes – all depending on family preferences.
In Mexico, Christmas is not celebrated as an official holiday. Instead, January 6 is known as Three Kings Day (Epiphany or El Dia de los Reyes) and is celebrated with a special cake that hides the figure of Jesus inside. The person who finds the figure becomes the recipient of God’s blessing for the year, known as the “Godparent.” The official name of this cake is also quite interesting, as it can be referred to as Three Kings Cake or “Twelfth Night Cake”.
The main meal on Christmas Eve in Sweden is called “Julbord.” This is a buffet-style feast that includes cold fish, ham, cheese, pickled herring, and much more. One of the standout dishes on the table is Christmas ham – known as “Julskinka” – which is prepared by boiling the cured meat with spices, then roasting it until crispy. After roasting, the ham is cooled and served cold with the other dishes.
Israel also places a strong emphasis on celebrating Christmas. Traditional Christmas Eve dishes are always prepared with care and precision. Among them, Latkes stand out – a dish that has existed since medieval times and is considered an essential part of the Hanukkah tradition. These are fried potato pancakes cooked in oil with an enticing aroma. In addition to Latkes, Israelis also enjoy various pastries and sweets on Christmas Eve, including donuts, fritters, and Hanukkah gelt.
If you study abroad in Japan, you’ll notice that people flock to eat KFC on Christmas Eve. Since the 1970s, this American fast-food chain has executed a brilliant marketing plan to make fried chicken a Christmas tradition in Japan. In addition to fried chicken, KFC’s Christmas combo also includes a Christmas cake, which is a favorite treat among many Japanese.
