Food

What’s Christmas dinner like all around the world?

What's Christmas dinner like all around the world?
(Picture: Balsam Hill)

If you’ve always wondered what people eat on Christmas Day, wonder no more.

Us Brits may be fond of our cranberry, turkey and mulled wine but it’s fair to say it’s a completely different story on the other side of the world.

In Australia, a Christmas barbecue is as part of tradition as sprouts and stuffing.

Charlotte from Sydney says: ‘It is too hot here for a roast! We always have steak, sausages, chicken skewers and sweet potato as part of a traditional Aussie barbecue. It is 86 degrees Fahrenheit after all!

‘The meal is special for us as it is the only time of the year when you can get away with preparing endless amounts of food that you can devour.’

We normally associate chicken soup with flu but who knew that in Spain, chicken soup with boiled eggs is a Christmas tradition?

That’s not to say, however, that meat takes centre stage in other countries – in Portugal, cod is the highlight.

Bruno from Estarreja says: ‘Our main dish is cod because our Catholic ancestors were once required to fast and not eat meat during major religious festivals, so many started eating salted cod instead.

‘The cod is served with eggs, potatoes, and greens. Alongside this dish are various desserts such as fruit cake, sponge cake, cheeses and sausages and pumpkin dumplings washed down by a good port wine.’

What's Christmas dinner like all around the world?
Portuguese table (Picture: Balsam Hill)
What's Christmas dinner like all around the world?
Portuguese table (Picture: Balsam Hill)

And if you’re bored of turkey leftovers days after Christmas, some countries don’t even have leftovers yet as they celebrate Christmas in January.

Yuri from Krasnodar, Russia says: ‘We usually eat at around 8pm on 6 January. The main winter holiday in Russia is the New Year on 31 December, not Christmas.

‘Olivier salad and dressed herring are the two traditional festive dishes you can find on every table in Russia.’

Eating Christmas dinner on 6 January is also a tradition in Macedonia. Zoran from Skopje says his family have dinner on that day because it’s the evening before Christmas according to the Byzantine calendar.

And the most traditional part of their meal?

‘The bread that is baked with a coin hidden inside it. We take turns breaking the bread in search of the coin and whoever finds it receives good fortune for the whole upcoming year,’ he says.

See more Christmas dinners around the world here

What's Christmas dinner like all around the world?
MacedoniaTable (Picture: Balsam Hill)
What's Christmas dinner like all around the world?
Russian table (Picture: Balsam Hill)
What's Christmas dinner like all around the world?
Australian plate (Picture: Balsam Hill)
What's Christmas dinner like all around the world?
Spain table (Picture: Balsam Hill)
What's Christmas dinner like all around the world?
Spain table (Picture: Balsam Hill)
What's Christmas dinner like all around the world?
England (Picture: Balsam Hill)

MORE: There’s a pop-up restaurant which only employs HIV-positive staff

MORE: Here’s a hack if you’re too lazy to cook over Christmas

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Original Article

Related Posts