Christmas meals around the world

_Iceland In Iceland the main meal, which they refer to as the ‘Yule meal’, is traditionally a leg of roast lamb presented in the middle of the table on Christmas Day. Another speciality includes leaf bread which is made out of thin sheets of dough. The dough is cut into delicate patterns and fried before serving.

Denmark Love rice pudding? Well, you’re going to love this tradition in Denmark. Most families whip up a “Ris ? la mande”, a special rice pudding (traditionally made with milk, rice, almonds, vanilla and whipped cream) served for dessert on Christmas Day. What makes this tradition so special? A whole almond is hidden in the rice pudding and whoever finds it gets a present!

Germany A stollen is a German fruit cake packed with dried fruit and marzipan. Dusted with icing, this impressive bake is usually eaten during the Christmas season in Germany when it is called ‘Weihnachtsstollen’ or ‘Christstollen’.
The Stollen dates back from the 15th century’ when it was given as a gift at Christmas.

Mexico In Mexico, Christmas isn’t celebrated officially until January 6 which is known as Epiphany or “El Dia de los Reyes” meaning the day of The Three Kings.
During this day, families will feast on a special cake called Three Kings cake or Twelfth Night cake which has a figure of the Baby Jesus is hidden inside.
The lucky finder of the Jesus figure becomes the “Godparen”’ of Jesus for that year.

New Zealand Other than barbecue_for dinner, dessert is the main focus on Christmas Day in New Zealand.
Hot fruit pudding, fruit salad and ice cream are only a few of the desserts families feast on.
Another favourite is a classic pavlova topped with cream and heaps of fresh berries. It’s the showstopper often proudly displayed in the centre of the table - who could blame them?

Italy Panettone is the heart of Italy around Christmas time.
Packed with candied peel, sultanas, raisins and many more, this sweet bread is usually about 12-15 cm high and should roughly weigh about 1kg. It’s a tear and share bread for the whole family to feast on throughout the Christmas celebrations.

Sweden The main feast in Sweden happens on Christmas Eve. This feast is called a “Julbord” which is a buffet including cold fish, cold meats, cheese, pickles and more. One of the stars of the show is the Christmas ham also known as “Julskinka” which is made by boiling the cut and roasting in the oven until crisp. This is usually left to cool and then served cold with the rest of the buffet food.

Greece Roast lamb or pork are often the main meats served at Christmas in Greece.
This is followed by a sweet, filo pastry dish called baklava. This delicious bake combines chopped nuts with a sweet honey or syrup sauce - it’s a must-have in most Greek homes around the festive season.

France In France it’s a tradition to have Christmas lunch on Christmas Eve or early Christmas morning after the midnight church service. Roast turkey, chestnut and venison are a few of the dishes served at the feast. When it comes to dessert a chocolate log, Yule log or ‘B?che de No?l’ is traditional served with fresh cream - this favourite usually disappears in minutes, we can see why!

Poland Beetroot soup or ‘Borscht’ is served as a traditional starter around Christmas time in Poland. It can be served hot or cold and is usually served on Christmas Eve, which is the day most Polish people have their main feast.

Japan Christmas is all about food, and in Japan, this food is associated with three letters: KFC. People flock to the American fast-food chain KFC to eat – get your drumsticks out – “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” aka “Kentucky For Christmas!” The tradition of eating “(Fried) Christmas chicken” goes back to a marketing campaign in 1974 – and to this day, KFC records the highest sales volume each year on Christmas Eve. Historically the Japanese didn’t celebrate Christmas, as less than one percent of the population is Christian.