Christmas food in different countries - Christmas food traditions in the world

What does Christmas food look like in different countries? Did you know that the French eat foie gras, Greenlanders eat whale blubber and that in Latvia you have to eat nine different dishes to have a good year ahead? We've taken a look at Christmas food traditions around the world, and discovered some exciting ones!

Christmas food in different countries - does it differ?

It's safe to say that Christmas food in different countries looks different, although there are also similarities. In many countries, you don't eat a "Christmas table" like we do here in Sweden, but you eat a dinner of roast ham, goose, turkey or duck. Or why not carp?

In some countries, the day before Christmas Day is vegetarian, and in Eastern Europe there is a lot of symbolism in the dishes served. It is simply a matter of eating right things to have a successful year. In other countries, the old traditions have been abandoned in favour of foie gras, "gourmet eating" or ... Kentucky Fried Chicken! Join us on a little Christmas food journey!

Denmark - pork roast

This is how you eat: Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve consists of a classic main course, but on Christmas Day there is a 'julefrokost', similar to the Swedish Christmas table.

This is on the table: Roast pork (or duck or goose) served with 'brunede kartofler' (caramelised potatoes), brown sauce, red cabbage and perhaps currant jelly or lingonberry jam. The main course is followed by risalamande (similar to rice a lá Malta, but with chopped almonds and served with cherry sauce).

Philippines - rice cakes

This is how you eat: Christmas is a very important holiday in the Philippines and is usually celebrated with dinner with family, relatives and friends.

This is on the table: Pork, chicken, rice, fruit salad, rice cakes and various sweets.

Finland - carrot box

This is how you eat: Christmas is traditionally an important celebration and many different dishes are served, including various 'boxes'.

This is on the table: Various boxes (e.g. turnip and carrot box), lutefisk, grilled fish, ham, pies and more.

France - foie gras

This is how you eat: Although Christmas Day is the main day of celebration, a long feast (révellion) begins with a three-course dinner on Christmas Eve evening.

This is on the table: Champagne and a starter with, for example oyster or foie gras (foie gras). The main course is duck or turkey and the dessert is the Christmas cake "La Buche de noel" (Christmas stump).

Holland - prawn cocktail and hare

This is how you eat: Although Dutch children receive presents from Sinterklaas on 5 December, Christmas is celebrated with a hearty Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. What you eat can vary a lot.

This is on the table: People like to start with a prawn cocktail, followed by hare, pork or goose served with potatoes and gravy. Some people go for the "gourmet", which is similar to the Swiss dish raclette, but with more meat.

Greenland - whale luggage

This is how you eat: In Greenland, as in the rest of the Nordic countries, they celebrate with dinner on Christmas Eve, and you can be sure that it's white outside the windows!

This is on the table: Pork, duck, sable, grouse, reindeer or lamb. They also eat the Greenlandic speciality 'mattak', which consists of whale skin with a string of whale blubber on top.

Iceland - lamb meat

This is how you eat: As in Denmark, Christmas dinner consists of a classic main course, which is served on Christmas Eve.

This is on the table: Lamb (or ham or grouse) served with boiled potatoes and red cabbage.

Italy - fish dishes

This is how you eat: On Christmas Eve, La Viglia, a meal is served which, by tradition, should consist only of fish dishes. On Christmas Day, a hearty dinner is served, with many dishes, but exactly what is served seems to vary between regions.

This is on the table: Various fish, salted cod, eel, mussels, scampi, fried calamari (small squid) etc. and on Christmas Day also lamb and chicken.

Japan - Kentucky Fried Chicken

This is how you eat: Christmas doesn't have a long history in Japan, and so there are no clear food traditions. After a successful advertising campaign in the 1970s (Kentucky For Christmas), many people book a table at the American fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), but there are also traditional 'winter dishes'.

This is on the table: Hot sake (rice wine), the citrus fruit yuzu, decorated Christmas cakes and dinner at KFC.

Latvia - 9 dishes

This is how you eat: The Latvian Christmas table is full of symbolism, and according to tradition there must be nine different items, each of which brings good luck in the new year.

This is on the table: Latvian grey peas (less tears), bacon bread (new experiences), beets or carrots (good health), stewed cabbage (strength), pig (luck), bird (success), fish (money), honeycomb (love) and round cookies (sunshine).

Norway - ribs and lutefisk

This is how you eat: In Norway, as in Denmark and Iceland, a main course meal is served at Christmas. What is served differs slightly between regions.

This is on the table: Ribbe (pork ribs) served with sauerkraut, gravy and boiled potatoes, or pinnekjött (lamb ribs) served with mashed potatoes. Lutefisk, served with bacon and mustard, is also a traditional Christmas food.

Peru - stuffed turkey

This is how you eat: As in many other countries, Peru celebrates mainly on Christmas Day, which is a national holiday.

This is on the table: Stuffed turkey or suckling pig, served with oven-roasted potatoes and apple sauce. After dinner, the Christmas cake panetón (filled with raisins and dried fruit) is served, preferably with hot chocolate.

Poland - 12 dishes

This is how you eat: The Christmas table should contain at least 12 dishes and you should try a little bit of each - it will bring good luck in the coming year.

This is on the table: Many different fish dishes and vegetarian dishes, such as herring, soup, fried carp, sauerkraut, pies and more. Only on Christmas Day do you eat ham and sausages.

Russia - porridge

This is how you eat: They eat 12 vegetarian dishes - one for each apostle. In Russia, most people are Orthodox Christians, so Christmas is celebrated on 7 January.

This is on the table: Fish dishes or vegetarian dishes, such as beetroot soup, potatoes, beans, semolina pudding, nuts, fruit and cakes. Kutja is a traditional porridge made from berries, raisins, honey, poppy seeds and wheat.

United Kingdom - Goose and Plum Pudding

This is how you eat: The main Christmas dinner is eaten on Christmas Day.

This is on the table: The main course is often oven-baked goose or turkey, served with potatoes and preferably cranberry sauce. For dessert, "Plum pudding" (Christmas pudding) is a dessert cake with raisins, nuts and berries.

Czech Republic - carp

This is how you eat: In the Czech Republic, Christmas dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve evening.

This is on the table: Fish soup (made from carp) and fried carp served with potato salad. They also eat finely decorated Christmas cakes.

Germany - duck and dumplings

This is how you eat: Traditions and food vary from one area to another, and since many people used to work on Christmas Eve, it is common to have simpler food on Christmas Eve and more festive food on Christmas Day.

This is on the table: Goose or duck is often eaten with dumplings and red cabbage, green cabbage or Brussels sprouts. Carp is also a common dish at Christmas. After dinner, people like to eat "stollen", a cake with nuts and dried fruit.

USA - turkey

This is how you eat: As in the UK, the main Christmas dinner is eaten on Christmas Day.

This is on the table: Many people eat turkey, which is served with mashed potatoes and sweet potato gratin. You can also eat duck, roast beef or ham. Pumpkin pie is also popular.

What are your experiences with Christmas food in different countries? Have you experienced any Christmas food traditions in the world that you can tell us about?