6 Christmas Meals from Around the World You'd Love To Try
Written on : 24 November 2020 By : Laura Wendy Harders López
Christmas is one of the most beloved and special holidays of the year. It's a time to reflect, appreciate and be thankful for our loved ones. Many families reunite during this period after spending many months apart, due to work, or living abroad. Families show their appreciation in many ways, whether it's visiting and spending time together, giving each other gifts, or preparing delicious Christmas dinners. Eating special meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day has become a widely practised and celebrated ritual in many countries around the world. So let's go and discover what these Christmas dinners are all about!
1) France
The "Réveillon" is the most popular Christmas dinner in France which consists of a copiously extravagant meal, where people dine in the company of many family relatives and often cramped together around a very long table. After wandering around the Christmas markets, or attending the morning church service, families get together at one of the relatives' houses to enjoy together this most sumptuous meal. There are two Réveillons in France, one on Christmas Eve (la Réveillon de Noël), and one on New Year's Eve (la Réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre). "Réveillon" literally means "waking", which explains how the custom of the Réveillon is "staying awake until past midnight". As this feast goes on until the wee hours, expect a numerous variety of special dishes laid out along the table and throughout the day. The most typical foods served are oysters, snails, foie gras, a chestnut-stuffed roast turkey, and even lobster. In some specific places in France, most typically in Provence, it is traditional to serve 13 desserts on Christmas Eve-- which represent the 12 apostles and Jesus Christ.
2) Italy
Italy's most famous Christmas meal is the "Feast of the Seven Fishes" or "La Vigilia", and celebrated on Christmas Eve. This dinner became so popular that it is not uncommon to find Italian-American families sharing this tradition as well. The custom is celebrated by eating seven different types of fish, who would have guessed! These are usually octopus, anchovies, salt cod, clams, squid, shrimps and the most traditional ingredient, eel.
What's also very interesting is the symbolism which surrounds it. This feast is an ancient custom which dates from the Roman Catholic tradition of being abstinent from meat and dairy on specific days during the nativity festival. The number seven also links back to Catholic symbolism, which in fact, appears repeated 700 times in the Bible.
However, due to Italy's biodiversity and the contrast between northern and southern Italy, you might be surprised by the different versions of "La Viglia" throughout the regions. For instance, in Piemonte, they celebrate with meat-filled-pasta, called "agnolotti", or in Rome, the tradition includes fish-based soup.
Italy's Christmas is unquestionably one mouth-watering culinary experience!
3) Portugal
Christmas in Portugal is a delightful experience. You will find warmth and cosiness wherever you go, families are welcoming, and also prepare delicious dishes throughout the nativity festival. Portugal is mainly Catholic, and one of their traditions on Christmas Eve is undergoing a fast until dinner time when they will then feast on traditional food with family relatives. The main meal to break this fast is called "Consoada", which consists of Bacalhau, "codfish"-- and is the main food staple of their Christmas dinner. However, in some regions, you may find this staple substituted by what they call Polvo, or "octopus". These usually come accompanied by boiled eggs, sweet potatoes, and cabbage. What's also very interesting to know, is that when celebrating this feast, family members always keep an empty place at their table, to honour the memory of their dear departed loved ones, and bring luck to the upcoming year.
4) Japan
When it comes to a Christmas meal, you might think it often consists of a copious feast with many plates and dishes, however, there are many versions of it depending on each country and culture. In Japan, it has become widely popular to have a special meal on Christmas Day! And that is fried chicken. Yes, that's right! And not any fried chicken, but KFC fried chicken! This tradition began in 1974 when KFC advertised their first "Kentucky for Xmas". After that, its popularity soared and it suddenly became a tradition for each year to even place orders in advance to secure their crispy fried chicken. Nowadays, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the busiest days of the year for KFC in Japan.
5) Mexico
The most typical food feasted on Christmas Eve in Mexico is the Biscay-style codfish. There are many different versions of preparing it, due to Mexico's extensive biodiversity and culture. It was first introduced by the Spanish colonisers-- however, over the generations, it has evolved into a variety of delicious styles. Another typical Christmas meal includes "Tamales". A must for any Mexican table over Christmas. And consist of a combination of ingredients such as meat, vegetables, chiles and different spicy sauces, wrapped up in banana or corn leaves. What's so mouth-watering about this Mexican dish is the fact you'll find a full plethora of different styles of Tamales. In fact, there are 5000 different types of Tamales in Mexico. Some of the most famous ones are Corundas, Oaxaqueños, Zacahiul, Canaries, Tamal de muerto, Cochinita pibil, Barbones, Chipilín, and Ayocote, among others.
6) Greece
Christmas in Greece is a time of following culinary traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. Throughout Greece, the main dish at this time of year is usually roasted lamb. In the northern-most part, however, it wouldn't feel like Christmas without their delicious Yiaprakia, which consists of brined pork stuffed in cabbage rolls. Another very traditional Christmas recipe is their Egg-Lemon-Chicken-Rice Soup or Avgolemono-- which is enjoyed as either a first course or after attending morning church service on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve.
