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Christmas Around the World: A Culinary Journey Through Festive Nights

As Christmas approaches, homes across the world prepare for lavish and heartwarming feasts that capture the spirit of the season. From Europe to Africa and Latin America, each country celebrates with unique flavors and traditions that tell stories of heritage, warmth, and togetherness.

Germany
In Germany, roast goose takes center stage on Christmas tables. Once associated with St. Martin’s Day, it has now become the highlight of holiday feasts. The goose is stuffed with apples, chestnuts, onions, and prunes, seasoned with salt, pepper, marjoram, and mugwort, then roasted until golden and crisp. It is often glazed with apricot jam or honey and served with traditional sides such as potato dumplings, German potato salad, and stewed red cabbage. The meal is completed with a cup of Glühwein, a warm spiced wine infused with cinnamon, cardamom, orange peel, and a hint of honey.

Italy
In Italy, Christmas Eve is celebrated with the “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” known as Festa dei Sette Pesci. This seafood banquet originated in Southern Italy as a way to abstain from meat before Catholic festivities. The table is filled with a variety of dishes such as salted cod, stuffed calamari, marinated eel, and clams in tomato sauce. Some families even serve up to 12 seafood dishes. The meal ends with classic Italian desserts like panettone, biscotti, and pandoro, beautifully presented for a festive finish.

France
For the French, the iconic Bûche de Noël, or Yule log cake, is the star of the Christmas celebration. The dessert originated from an ancient custom of burning wooden logs during the winter solstice to welcome the sun’s return. As fireplaces disappeared, the tradition transformed into a culinary one. The cake features a soft sponge rolled with chestnut or coffee cream and topped with smooth chocolate ganache. Today, it comes in many creative versions, often adorned with meringue mushrooms, sugared fruits, and powdered sugar for a snow-like touch.

Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, Christmas is not complete without Tamales, a cherished dish made from corn dough, a grain symbolizing the sun god in ancient beliefs. The dough is spread on banana leaves and filled with shredded pork or chicken, green beans, rice, peppers, and olives before being wrapped and steamed. Making Tamales is a family affair known as Tamaleada, where friends and relatives gather to cook and celebrate together.

Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s festive dish is Doro Wat, a rich, spicy chicken stew simmered with onions, tomatoes, and a blend of herbs such as basil, fenugreek, and black cumin. The heat comes from berbere, a traditional chili spice mix. Doro Wat is served with Injera, a soft, slightly sour flatbread made from teff flour. Diners use pieces of Injera to scoop up the stew, creating a perfect harmony of spicy and tangy flavors.

Sweden
In Sweden, the highlight of Christmas is Julbord, a grand buffet offering both cold and hot dishes. It begins with pickled herring in various marinades, followed by smoked and cured salmon, and then ham, the centerpiece of the meal. The hot selection includes Swedish meatballs, sausages, and beetroot salad. For dessert, people enjoy Ris à la Malta, a creamy rice pudding with orange and whipped cream, or Knäck, a chewy caramel toffee made with butter, sugar, and nuts.

Iceland
In Iceland, Christmas dinner is defined by Hangikjöt, smoked lamb served either hot or cold. The meat is cured, then smoked using birch wood or, traditionally, dried sheep dung, giving it a deep, distinctive flavor. It is served with potatoes, peas, pickled red cabbage, and creamy béchamel sauce. Sliced thin, Hangikjöt can also be enjoyed on dark rye bread or in sandwiches, offering a comforting taste of Icelandic tradition.

Each dish tells a story that extends beyond the dining table, a story of history, faith, and the joy of gathering. Whether it is Germany’s golden roast goose, Italy’s seafood banquet, or Ethiopia’s spicy stew, Christmas cuisine across cultures reflects the universal desire for warmth, connection, and gratitude as the year draws to a close.