A lot of people have been slipping into the holiday blues because of a certain pandemic that has decided to ruin their holiday plans for the second year in a row, but we're not going to have any of that. Since we can't visit all the places that we want to, or try all the amazing delicacies from around the world, I've decided to bring these foods to you. We're about to go on a trip around the world to have a look at, and a virtual taste of, some of the interesting and unique traditional foods that people enjoy during the holiday season. Prepare yourselves with something to dry up the drool, because this is going to get tasty... Bon Voyage et Bon Appéit!
"Starting With Dessert"
If we're going to take a tour of the world's traditional Christmas foods, we may as well start with something from the end of the meal that's been part of the British tradition, in one form or another, since Medieval times, Christmas pudding. Those who lived during the Victorian era would prepare this dessert on "Stir Up Sunday", which occurs 5 Sundays prior to Christmas. Today, however, it's prepared whenever there's time to do so.
Traditionally, Christmas pudding is made using bits of plum, thus its other name "plum pudding", but also includes orange juice for zest and a "splash" of alcohol for flavour (and the above theatrics).
"Looks Good Enough To Eat"
Not all countries celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December - some even wait until the new year. Russians celebrate the birth of baby Jesus on January 7th, and it's not just to be different. It's because the Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar, which happens to be 13 days longer than the Gregorian calendar. When people in Russia do, finally, sit down for their meal, they do so with some very unique foods in front of them.
Selyodka Pod Shuboy, a.k.a "herring under the fur coat", is a Russian tradition that takes, the commonly eaten, pickled herring, and sees it layered with boiled eggs, cabbage, mayonnaise, carrots, beets, and diced onions.
"Not For Those With Shellfish Allergies"
There is no denying that there is something unique about each one of the southern states in America - aside from the hospitality that they've become world renown for - which, come holiday season, is always on display. If one does ever find themselves traveling across the south of the United States around Christmas, be sure to make a pitstop in the Creole State for some Christmas gumbo.
Of all the inconsistencies in life, one thing is certain, when midnight mass gets out in the bayou on Christman Eve, there WILL be fresh gumbo simmering on the stove for when everyone returns home.
"Just Open The Hatch And Send It Down"
Christmas cuisine is going to be good anywhere we go, however, one would have to think that spending the holiday in France would lead to something extra delectable, and they wouldn't be wrong. Don't worry, there shouldn't be any frog legs on the table, but what will be there is a beautiful roast turkey, some baked escargot, and, what many people believe to be the creme-de-la-creme of seafood, oysters.
Any oyster virgins out there, getting caught cooking oysters is a big "no-no" - they're meant to be eaten as fresh as possible with a bit of lemon or sea salt.
"Tiiiiiimber! "
Following a fantastic Christmas dinner composed of foie gras, escargot, caviar, coquilles Saint Jacques, roast turkey, and, of course, fresh oysters, it's hard to imagine that there could, possibly, be any room left for dessert. But of course, there is. Of all the things France is known for, its pastries and desserts are right near the top, and, for Christmas dinner's dessert, there are few things more traditional than nice Bûche de Noël.
In English, Bûche de Noël means, exactly, what this chocolatey cakey delight looks like, "Christmas Log". Don't forget to bring the mini chainsaw, because a few rings of this tree would go great with a cup of tea.
"Fowl On The Play"
After stopping off in France, and tasting some of the world-famous French cuisines, let's pop on over to Ireland for something a bit more traditional for a Westerner's taste. As can be expected, there are bound to be a couple of different potato-themed dishes at Christmas dinner, but the part of the meal everyone is, usually, looking forward to the most is the main event - the bird!
Nowadays, in Ireland, turkey is the most common bird for Nanna to prepare, but in the old days, a Christmas table wasn't complete without a roast goose.
"We're Not Finnish, We're Only Getting Started"
On our way through the menu of the wonderful Christmas foods from around the world, there's no way we could leave out a trip to Finland in the north of Europe. Many of the foods that we're going to be having a look at contain copious amounts of meat. Lanttulaatikko, on the other hand, is a vegetarian (not vegan) side dish, but it is meant to be served on the side of whichever meat is on the menu for the main course.
Made out of rutabaga, eggs, cream, treacle, butter, salt, and topped off with breadcrumbs, this casserole is a mainstay on most Finnish Christmas tables - and it's a lot better than it sounds.
"Sounds Pretty Good, Eh? "
Swinging across the Northern Pacific, from the third-largest country on Earth, we come to the west coast of the second-largest, Canada. Sorry to disappoint, but, for Christmas dinner, Canadians do not guzzle maple syrup, nor do they eat moose steaks, well, most of them don't. In reality, just like the people in Canada, Christmas traditions, in the Great White North, are a bit of a mishmash from all over the world.
The traditions of every Canadian might be different than their neighbour's, but their Christmas table's centrepieces are, usually, the same. A nice big turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mashed potato (clumpy, of course).
"Icing On The Cake"
Taking a culinary journey around the world on Christmas sounds absolutely delicious but, if there's not enough time to visit everywhere that one wants to go, each state in America is pretty much its own country, and has plenty of interesting Christmas foods to taste. One of the traditions, that has made it across most of the state lines, however, has also solved the problem of children not wanting to eat their veggies - candied yams.
Candied yams are a tradition that dates back 500 years, but it wasn't until the last century or two that they really came into their own with the addition of marshmallows on the top of the casserole.
"Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? "
One of the less expected Christmas traditions from around the world comes from the far east, Japan. Many people, probably, thought that Christmas dinner in Japan consisted of sushi, but that would be both wrong and an incorrect stereotype. Alternatively, the tradition in Japan is to eat American food. And what's more stereotypically American than having the Coronel over for Christmas dinner?
That's right, this is no joke. In Japan, families are so keen on having KFC for Christmas dinner that they book their reservations more than 2 months in advance.
"A Cut Above The Rest"
Every state in America has its own unique idea as to what makes the perfect Christmas dinner. Some states' traditional meals are more for nostalgic purposes than anything else but, in other states, they go all in. When it comes to Christmas, Alaskans don't hold anything back. Instead of the usual roasted turkey or ham, that most Americans enjoy, in "The Last Frontier", they feast on prime rib.
This succulent cut of beef has a juicy ribbon of fat that runs its length, adding flavour along the way, and when slow-cooked for an extended period of time, softens to a texture that is a delight to cut into.
"Making A Splash"
As we make the journey from the Bering Sea east past Canada and into the North Atlantic, we come to Greenland - a place with few people but many rich traditions. Along with the usual meats and stews that most holidays have, a Greenlandic Christmas feast also includes some local delicacies, like kivial (fermented auk bird) and a favourite of most first-time Greenland Christmasers, mattak.
Mattak, for the few people out there who didn't know, is whale blubber. More specifically, it's the fat and skin with a tiny bit of cartilage. Is anyone interested in some Greenlandic sushi?
"Under The Sea"
Let's take a little bit of a break from the Arctic Christmas locations and head on down to Southern Italy for a Christmas Eve feast that has become known as the "Feast of the Seven Fishes". And it's exactly what it sounds like. There's no meat on the Christmas Eve dinner table, but there is plenty of seafood and, as one would expect, plenty of pasta and wine.
With the meat coming on Christmas Day, as is the Roman Catholic tradition, those who feast with fish on Christmas Eve should expect to see plenty of calamari, baccalà, and vongole (squid, salt cod, and clams).
"That's What I Call A Julebord! "
That stop by the Mediterranean was nice, but, to celebrate Christmas properly, it should be spent somewhere that will have a white Christmas, and for that, we're going to pop into Sweden. For this Christmas dinner, stretchy pants might be needed, because at the holiday Julebord (feast) they'll be serving a beautiful Christmas ham, some juicy sausages, chopped liver, gubbröra (a mix of anchovies and egg), and, of course, lutefisk.
Made from dried whitefish, usually, salted cod or stockfish, lutefisk is similar to the bacalhau, that is traditionally served in Brazil and Portugal, and has been served on Christmas tables across the nordic region, not just in Sweden, for generations.
"Just A Little Piece... Okay, Maybe A Little Bigger. Fine, Just Hand Me A Fork. "
On the off chance that anyone still has room for dessert after that insane Julebord in Sweden, hang on a little bit longer, because the cake we're about to see in the Czech Republic is, definitely, worth the wait. Next year, we can stop here for some of the traditional fish soup, potato salad, and turkey, but this year, it's all about the Vánočka.
Vánočka's pre-baked shape is quite similar to challah, but that's where the comparison ends. This braided Christmas bread is sweet, crunchy, fluffy, and everything in between. As if that wasn't good enough, it also contains raisins and almonds.
"There's One For Everyone"
For anyone who is planning on attending their first Lithuanian Christmas this year, there are a few things that should be known. Firstly, Christmas Eve dinner in Lithuania has no meat, also, be sure to bring an appetite because, in Lithuania, their dinner consists of 12 dishes that, usually, include beets (in multiple forms), potato, herring, smoked salmon, homemade Christmas bread, something with mushrooms, and poppy seed milk. This meal is called "Kūčios".
Some people believe the dishes symbolize the 12 months of the year, however, others are under the belief that each dish represents one of the apostles. Either way, there will be no lack of variety.
"It's Just So Jiggly "
We've now had a look at a few different countries as well as a few of America's states - each one with its own twist on what makes Christmas dinner so special. Our next food comes from another of the United States's southern states, but this time we're making a pit stop in the desert of Arizona for some dessert.
A few decades ago, in Arizona, it became a tradition to eat flan as the Christmas dessert. Quite the stretch from figgy pudding and grandma's apple pie, but, equally, as tasty.
"Now, That's A Chunky Soup"
Heading out to Africa's east coast, our next stop is in Ethiopia, but, when planning a Christmas dinner tour of the world, don't forget to save an appetite for the new year because Christmas in Ethiopia is celebrated on January 7th, and no one who eats meat will want to miss this dinner. Using injera, as both, the plate and cutlery, locals enjoy a selection of stews and veggies, including Doro Wat.
Doro Wat is a hearty stew, chock-full of local vegetables, boiled eggs, and a healthy portion of meat - usually, chicken, but it's, sometimes, made using beef or lamb instead.
"Cleaning Dishes Has Never Been So Easy"
Seeing as how we came all the way to Ethiopia, why stop at the Doro Wat. As mentioned earlier, in Ethiopia they, traditionally, use injera as a plate and cutlery, but, as odd as this might sound, that's not all it's used for. Done eating? Don't forget to eat the plate, because that's where all the flavour has soaked into. Confused yet? Don't be - injera's a multi-faceted Ethiopian flatbread.
Injera might look like a regular flatbread, but don't be fooled by its appearance. It has a delightfully spongy texture, and its dough has been fermented to give it a sourdough-style tang.
"Who's Up For Some Christmas Day Fishing? "
Mexico is one of the countries that is, fortunately, surrounded by waters that have an abundance of sea life. As such, many traditional Christmas foods from the region include fish and shellfish. One of the dishes that are, more commonly, prepared for Christmas dinner in Mexico is a flavourful number that originated in Portugal close to 500 years ago but has since gained popularity all over the world - bacalao.
Bacalao is made up of salted dried cod, veggies, potatoes, and cinnamon, that have been cooked and simmered to perfection, and served with fresh bread. Don't forget to save room for dessert, because something sweet is coming next...
"Too Good To Resist"
For our something sweet, after indulging in a small plate of salted cod stir-fry, we're going to stick around Mexico for just a little while longer. If this trip to Central America has been a little too filling, don't worry, it's possible to find variations of buñuelos in a handful of other countries as well, so, it's okay to wait until arriving in Greece, Israel, or Spain, but it would be rude to say no.
Buñuelos are crispy disc-shaped pastries that have been fried into delicious goodness. If deep-fried sugary fritters aren't sweet enough for one's palette, these things are great with a drizzle of honey over top.
"Just Like Grandma Used To Make"
As we leave the Americas, for now, it's time to make the journey back to the European continent for a visit to Spain. Christmas in Spain,, usually begins with an appetizer plate of meats and cheeses, then is followed up with a fine selection of shellfish, and either roast pig, turkey, or lamb. Saving room for dessert at this Christmas table is, probably, a good idea because the turrón is a can't miss.
Traditional Christmas turrón is a sweet bar made from almonds and comes either hard like nougat or creamy like peanut butter. For an extra something special, many people also like to add candied fruit to the mix.
"Throw Some Shrimp On The Barbie"
As the first of our two stops to the other side of the world, we've come to a place that has, probably, never seen snow for Christmas, and it's a good thing too because, in Australia, most families make their way to the beaches on Christmas Day and have themselves a BBQ. It's not just a stereotype, Aussies love to grill.
A good Christmas feast in Australia will be composed of, at least, a couple of different types of meat and a few varieties of seafood as well.
"No Walnuts For Me, Thanks"
The next stop on our Christmas culinary journey is over to the turquoise waters of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, for a sample of Christopsomo, a sweet, traditional Greek bread made from flour, milk, butter, honey, sugar, and a hint of orange. Christopsomo is simple enough to make, but, when it comes to the design, that's where the fun begins. It's common to design the surface of the bread after a religious symbol.
Christopsomo translates to "Christ's bread", which might explain the traditional designs. This bread also might look familiar because it's similar to the traditional "Easter Bread".
"There Are No Bad Purple Foods"
To give our pallettes a slightly different experience, we're going to leave southern Europe, and the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean, and head on over to the Philipines and the crystal clear waters of South East Asia. The Christmas foods in this part of the world are a far cry from what people in Europe and North America are used to, but that doesn't make it any less tasty...or traditional.
Puto bumbóng colour comes from pirurutong, a type of purple rice. Sure, they look a little suspect, but they are delicious! When ready, these sticky logs are served with grated coconut, sugar, butter, and condensed milk. Mmmm.
"An Apple A Day... Not An Apple A Year"
Staying in Southeast Asia, our next stop takes us a little further north to mainland China. It might come as a shock to some people but Christmas is celebrated in China, however, it's, usually, done so as a non-religious holiday. Many of the people in the world's most populated country still decorate for the holiday, and the children still, anxiously, await the arrival of Mr. Claus. There's even a traditional exchange of holiday...apples?
It's true, in China, it has become a holiday tradition to exchange apples with loved ones, some of which have meaningful messages printed on/in them, others simply send the message of peace and health.
"Save Room... And Bring Some Jam"
A trip through the kitchens of Christmas chefs around the world wouldn't be complete without a few more baked goods, and for our next sample, we're heading across the Pacific to Peru where, like many other countries around the world, the people have borrowed an Italian classic and made it their own. This one embodies the better qualities of both bread, pudding and fruit cake...
Panetón, although it originated in Italy, has quickly become a holiday staple in Peru. It's sweet, dense (but not too dense), has bits of fruit, and is great for soaking up coffee or tea. Who wouldn't want a slice of this?
"Prost! "
Heading back to Europe, we're going to take a gander at what's going on in Germany. At this, the time of year when families and friends come together to reminisce about the past 12 months, the people of Deutschland kick off the festivities a night early. There's no need to wait up all night for Santa to arrive because the gift exchange and holiday dinner take place on Christmas Eve.
One of the traditional Christmas dinners in Germany is Weihnachtsgans (a goose, roasted to perfection) and a couple dozen steins of beer, so, bring an appetite and put on the festive Lederhosen.
"They're Like Little Pillows"
As we saw earlier, in Lithuania, it's a long-standing tradition to begin the Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve with Kūčios, the 12-dish Christmas Eve meal. As part of this meal, it's customary to include Kūčiukai. They're made from wheat, barley, or buckwheat flour, and don't sound that tasty, but these little "Christmas cakes" are very easy to make and go with, pretty much, everything.
If the plans are to spend time in eastern Europe for the holidays, don't be hesitant to try Kūčiukai. F.Y.I., they are great with soups.
"What's Not To Like? "
With a history that spans more than 1000 years, there are bound to be a few traditional foods that the chaps over in London town indulge themselves with when the holiday season comes around. For our stop in England, we're not going to have a look at a main dish, or even one with a huge fanbase, but, instead, something that is extremely popular around the holidays, but only for a small group of people.
A traditional mince pie, in the old days, would have been made from a combination of minced meat, fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, however, these days this, "love it or hate it" dessert is, more commonly, made without the meat.
"Try Not To Tear The Wrapping"
After crashing Christmas dinners across three European countries in a row, it feels like time to head back over to South America for some warmer weather and nicely wrapped food. That was no typo, in Venezuela, one of the country's traditional Christmas foods does actually come wrapped (in a plantain leaf) and tied up with string. These delicious palm-sized gifts are called hallacas, and they come with their own little surprises...
Stuffed with beef, pork, or chicken, and a mixture of other goodies, after being wrapped, these corn dough pockets are then boiled to completion and followed by some dulce de lechosa (candied papaya) for dessert.
"There's Always Room For A Small Bowl"
From the warm confines of northern South America, we'll head on over to a country that, definitely, has more of the traditional Christmas look to it. After all, if Santa Claus can travel around the whole world in one night, surely, we can make the 6,200-mile trek over to Ukraine by the evening of January 6th, when they're celebrating Christmas Eve over there. And when we get there, there will, more than likely, be a hefty bowl of kutya waiting for us.
This sweet wheat berry pudding, that's made predominantly from buckwheat can be, commonly, found on the dinner tables of Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic Christians across most of the former Soviet Union.
"Aloha! "
Trying to escape the frigid winters of the northern United States for Christmas but, due to the current travel restrictions are you finding it difficult to finalize a location? Look no further than the 50th state, Hawaii. It's the perfect place to relax on the beach while also enjoying the spoils of a succulently tender Christmas feast - and I'm not talking about a roast turkey, but something a bit more traditional to the Hawaiin islands...
Kalua pork is smoked for hours, with a mixture of sea salt, koa wood, and banana leaves for flavour, in a sandpit by the beach and served at the evening's Christmas luau. For comparison, it's mostly similar to pulled pork.
"It Was Worth The Wait"
The time has come that everyone has been waiting for, the last of our desserts, and the second to last item on this year's Christmas menu. For this dessert we're going to make our way back over to the other side of the world, but not to the land down under. Instead, we're going to the land east of the land down under, the home of the traditional Christmas Pavlova, New Zealand.
Although the Aussies will debate this, it was in 1927, that the Kiwis claim they created this incredible meringue dessert. And, for almost as long, they've been concluding their Christmas dinners with a hot bevvy and a healthy portion of pav.
"Slimy Yet Satisfying"
We're going to finish off this year's Christmas culinary experience with a trip down to one of Africa's southern countries. The reason we've saved Zimbabwe's Christmas delicacy for last is, frankly, not a whole lot of people would be able to stomach eating mopane worms, and then heading out on a food tasting that takes them around the world. This way, at least, everything else has been, thoroughly, enjoyed.
Although they're called worms, mopanes are actually in the caterpillar family. Curious if they taste as good as they look? Timon and Pumba, famously, stated that they taste like chicken, so, surely, mopane worms can't be all bad when boiled and seasoned...right?