Christmas: Recipes and Traditions

Christmas gingerbread house
Image © iStockphoto

The celebration of Christmas takes place on December 25th every year. It commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians consider the Son of God and Savior of mankind. Favorite Christmas traditions include exchanging gifts with family and friends, lighting and decorating Christmas trees, singing carols, drinking eggnog and baking all manner of sweets and treats.

Christmas food traditions vary widely around the world. Puerto Ricans make pasteles. Germans roast goose or duck. The British prefer roast turkey. And Mexicans steam enormous batches of tamales.

Traditions differ from family to family, but a typical Christmas Eve dinner is a relatively simple affair, sometimes followed by nighttime church services. Gifts are exchanged on Christmas morning, followed by a large family meal.

International Christmas Recipes

Tourtière 
(French Canadian pork pie)

Alfajores 
(South American dulce de leche sandwich cookies)

Oyster Stew 
(American shellfish stew)

Cranberry Pudding 
(American steamed Christmas pudding)

Köttbullar med Gräddsås 
(Swedish meatballs with cream sauce)

Pan de Jamón 
(Venezuelan ham, raisin and olive bread)

Nacatamales 
(Honduran, Nicaraguan meat and vegetable-filled tamales)

Atole 
(Mexican warm cornmeal beverage)

Ghapama 
(Armenian rice-stuffed and baked whole pumpkin)

Janssons Frestelse 
(Swedish potato, onion and cream casserole)

Bacalhau com Natas 
(Portuguese salt cod with potatoes and cream)

Dresdner Stollen 
(German Christmas fruitcake)

Gingerbread Men 
(English spiced Christmas cookies)

Chicken Stock 
(How to make chicken stock, with variations)

Pavo Salvadoreño 
(Salvadoran roast turkey with sauce)

Baked Country Ham 
(American Southern roasted ham)

Bibingka Especial 
(Filipino sweet coconut and rice flour cake)

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)

Cranberry Sauce 
(American cranberry compote)

Rumtopf 
(German rum-soaked fruit dessert)

Yorkshire Pudding 
(English savory puff pudding)

Stekt Gås 
(Swedish roast Christmas goose with pan gravy)

Classic Bread Stuffing 
(American seasoned bread side dish)

Pasteles 
(Puerto Rican savory cakes in banana leaves)

Linzertorte 
(Austrian jam tart)

Panforte 
(Italian Christmas honey fruitcake)

Sorrel Punch 
(Jamaican hibiscus flower beverage)

Pozole 
(Mexican pork and hominy stew)

Aquavit 
(Swedish herb-infused vodka)

Champurrado 
(Mexican chocolate-cornmeal beverage)

Tamales de Pollo 
(Mexican steamed corncakes with chicken)

Roast Prime Rib 
(English roast rib of beef)

Peanut Brittle 
(American toffee candy with peanuts)

Popcorn Balls 
(American caramel-coated popcorn treat)

Bigos 
(Polish hunter's stew of meat, cabbage and sauerkraut)

Eggnog 
(American egg and cream Christmas beverage)

Mashed Potatoes 
(Irish and American potato puree)

Cioppino 
(American West Coast fish and seafood stew)

Coquito 
(Puerto Rican coconut-rum beverage)

Brussels Sprouts Gratin 
(English roasted Brussels sprouts with cheese sauce)

Mulled Wine 
(English spiced wine)

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)

Lefse 
(Norwegian potato flatbread)

Pavlova 
(Australian meringue with whipped cream and fruit)

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