7 Festive Christmas Delicacies From Around the World
Discover the rich diversity of Christmas feasts across the globe! Explore festive traditions from France, Italy, England, Greece, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas, as these nations come together to celebrate with mouthwatering delicacies
Christmas is celebrated in various ways around the world, with diverse cuisine that reflects the people who enjoy it. The comforting traditions surrounding Christmas and Advent food provide a sense of joy and warmth, especially during difficult times. These dishes hold a special place in many households.
The Christmas meal varies by destination, but the common theme of indulging in a feast, whether on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, remains consistent.
Explore how locals in seven different countries celebrate Christmas through their cuisine. Hospitality experts shared insights into the traditions and what is typical for them, their families, and friends.
In France, a bûche de Noël makes for a sweet end to a lavish holiday meal.
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France
According to Francois Payard, a celebrated pastry chef from Nice, the French indulge in a luxurious holiday feast on December 24. The locals gather for dinner at around 8 p.m. and delight in a first course of seafood, often enjoying dishes such as lobster thermidor or shrimp scampi.
Next is a large capon, a tender male chicken, served with a variety of sides such as mashed potatoes and chestnuts sautéed with butter and sage. "Chestnuts are a Christmas meal tradition for us," says Payard.
The grand finale is dessert, a yule log, or bûche de Noël, the French version of a Christmas cake. Two are often served - one chocolate and the other chestnut. For drinks, it's the finest red wine from Burgundy that isn't too full-bodied for the capon.
On Christmas Day, a delicious brunch is enjoyed by the French, featuring a delightful spread of creamy scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and toast. The meal concludes with a delectable selection of cheeses such as Brie, Gruyere, and Munster, according to Payard.
Tortellini in brodo is part of many an Italian Christmas Eve spread.
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Italy
Just like their French neighbors, Italians also mark Christmas with a lavish feast on the night before the main event. According to Luca Finardi, the general manager of the Mandarin Oriental Milan, it is customary for locals to attend midnight Mass and savor a luxurious meal before heading to church.
Begin with a starter of smoked salmon served with buttered crostini or smoked salted cod before moving on to the main meal. In coastal regions like the Amalfi Coast, Italians may begin with a crudo such as sea bass with herbs and sea salt, as recommended by Finardi. Following the starter, enjoy tortellini in brodo - stuffed pasta served in a hot broth of chicken and Parmesan cheese, using Parmesan from the designated region in Italy.
Italian cuisine offers a variety of delicious potato dishes, catering to different regional preferences. In northern Italy, stuffed turkey is a popular choice for the main course, while those living in coastal areas often indulge in a large baked sea bass accompanied by roasted potatoes and vegetables.
"The must-have, no matter where you're from, is panettone - a traditional sweet bread," according to Finardi. "The secret is to warm it up for just a few minutes." The drink of choice is Spumante, a sparkling wine.
As for the renowned Italian Christmas meal of the feast of the seven fishes, Finardi states that it is primarily limited to the Campania region, which includes the Amalfi Coast and Naples.
Christmas Day is more about connecting with family and less about food, Finardi says. "We eat leftovers and recover from the day before."
Christmas pudding, sometimes flaming with brandy, finishes the traditional English Christmas feast.
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England
In contrast to other cultures, the British tradition does not involve indulging in a big holiday meal on Christmas Eve. "The 24th is dedicated to cooking with our families and enjoying a pint at the local pub," explained Nicola Butler, who is the owner of the London-based luxury travel company NoteWorthy.
The Christmas celebrations kick off on Christmas morning with a glass of champagne and a breakfast of smoked salmon and mince pies. Following the airing of the Queen's annual Christmas speech, it's time for the main Christmas dinner. This includes a choice of turkey or roast beef with a variety of sides such as roasted parsnips, carrots, buttered peas, and Brussels sprouts. Some families also enjoy Yorkshire pudding, a savory baked dish made with flour, eggs, and milk combined with meat drippings.
Christmas pudding, a rich and decadent cake filled with dried fruits, spices, and a hint of brandy, will be served for dessert. "We'll also be offering a variety of wines to complement the meal," Butler adds.
Christmas honey cookies are part of a typical Greek holiday spread.
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Greece
Maria Loi, the celebrity Greek chef, says that the countrys holiday celebrations begin on Christmas Eve around 7 p.m.
"Families gather around the fireplace during Christmas to enjoy a special wheat bread that we only make during this time," she explains. "Some households also indulge in pork sausages, which is a unique occurrence as pork is not commonly eaten in Greek cuisine." Following a morning holy communion on Christmas Day, Greeks return home for a day-long feast, according to Loi.
Start your meal with homemade honey cookies with walnuts or almonds, followed by savory chicken soup with orzo. Then, enjoy a main course of either roast chicken stuffed with chestnuts or a variety of grilled or braised pork dishes. Sides such as sautéed wild greens, finely shredded romaine with scallions and feta cheese, and roasted lemon potatoes complement the entree. For dessert, indulge in baked apples with honey and walnuts or Greek yogurt topped with honey. Complement your meal with a glass of red wine, as preferred by the Greeks.
Posole is a traditional way to start a Mexican Christmas meal.
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Mexico
The Christmas festivities in Mexico begin on December 24th, with families breaking a piñata filled with locally made candies in chili and tamarind flavors, followed by dinner typically between 7 and 10 p.m., according to Paradero Hotels co-founders Pablo Carmona and Josh Kremer.
include posole, a stew made with large corn kernels and pork or beef, accompanied by up to 20 condiments like parsley, cilantro, chiles, and assorted cheeses.
In a tribute to the American influence in Mexico, the main course - at least for Carmona and Kremer - is a roast turkey served with traditional sides like mashed potatoes and green beans.
For dessert, a popular choice is a velvety flan accompanied by fresh strawberries and cream. And of course, no meal is truly finished without tequilas and mezcals to complement the flavors of the food.
On the 25th, many Mexicans heat up the leftovers from the night before. "Were tired so we dont want to bother to cook," says Carmona.
Homemade tamales are a staple in Costa Rica.
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Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, Christmas is celebrated with a late-night extravaganza, according to Leo Ghitis, owner of Nayara Hotels in the northern highlands of the country. "We attend midnight Mass and then return home to enjoy a big meal at 2 a.m.," he explains.
Start with delicious homemade tamales, filled with options like chicken, pork, or vegetables and cheese, to kick off the meal. Next, savor the flavors of arroz con pollo, Costa Rica's national rice dish made with green beans, peas, carrots, saffron, cilantro, and a whole chopped chicken.
For the third course, enjoy an array of grilled proteins. Coastal dwellers may indulge in seafood like marlin, tuna, mahi mahi, shrimp, and lobster, while those inland can savor beef, pork, and chicken. Both groups can enjoy sides of rice with black beans, boiled palm fruit with sour cream, and a hearts of palm salad with avocado.
Dessert is typically a coconut flan and arroz con leche -rice with milk, sugar and cinnamon.
"We top off the meal with lots of rum punch and eggnog and dont finish until 4 or 5 a.m.," says Ghitis.
Christmas Day itself is about finishing leftovers and hitting the streets for outdoor parties, he says.
Peas and rice grace many holiday plates in the Bahamas.
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Bahamas
Christmas Day is the big food celebration for Bahamians, says Vonya Ifill, the director of talent and culture at Rosewood Baha Mar.
The locals enjoy a lavish dinner featuring turkey, ham, macaroni and cheese, peas and rice cooked in coconut milk, and potato salad.
"We indulge in this feast in the evening, then later on at midnight, we head out to celebrate Boxing Day with a Junkanoo Festival," she explains. "After dancing and parading throughout the evening and into the early morning, we conclude the festivities with a boiled fish or fish stew."
The seafood, she says, is always accompanied by potato bread or Johnny Cake, a cornmeal flatbread.
This story, which was first published in December 2020, was updated in December 2023.
