{"id":891409,"date":"2025-12-05T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T08:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/?p=891409"},"modified":"2025-12-08T15:54:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T15:54:59","slug":"christmas-dinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/christmas-dinner\/","title":{"rendered":"What Christmas Dinner Looks Like Around the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stuffed turkeys, zesty oysters, crispy wafers and seven fishes. Whichever way or day you dine, Christmas dinner around the world takes many forms.<\/p>\n

To get the inside track on what culinary delights take center stage in various countries, we spoke to Travel Director Dani, this week\u2019s festive Insightful Travel Trivia<\/a> expert. Dani also inspired this week\u2019s Travel Trivia<\/a>questions, clues to which can be found in this article.<\/p>\n

A Box Of Delights<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI am quite a mixed bag, in terms of my background, so have experienced a few different Christmas dinners!\u201d says Dani. \u201cIam African and I was born in Canada, although I didn’t spend much time there. I lived in Zambia and went to school in South Africa, my father is Zambian, my mother is Polish, and I now live in Croatia.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a Travel Director for over 15 years and work all over Europe, including lots of our Christmas Market tours which I absolutely love. They are so magical. It\u2019s also given me the opportunity to see how many cultures and countries celebrate the festive season.\u201d<\/p>\n

My Polish Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWith my family we usually do a Polish Christmas,\u201d Dina says. \u201cWe celebrate on the 24th of December, known as Wigilia, and we only eat vegetarian and fish. Rooted in Catholicism, you\u2019ll see the same way of sharing Christmas dinner across many European countries and indeed other parts of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Roman Catholics, Christmas Eve at sundown marks the Vigil of Christmas, a Holy Day of Obligation. Participants abstain from meat from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, a tradition adhered to in many countries and also embraced by many non-religious households as handed down through generations.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur celebrations start in the evening when the first star has been seen,\u201d she continues. \u201cEveryone gets together, and we share the oplatek, a special festive wafer. The matriarch of the family will welcome everyone, and then you will go around the table, each person sharing wafer with their neighbor and giving thanks for the year and best wishes going forward. Its a really heartwarming tradition and a great way to start Christmas dinner.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen there will be a toast with lots of Polish vodka! \u00a0At the table there is always a spare place, again, religious tradition, along with a little candle at the window, letting any strangers that pass by know that there\u2019s a place for them as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cDinner is twelve courses, often some smoked salmon, Barszcz Czerwony, which is like a beetroot hot beetroot soup and different kinds of salads. You will also get herrings in cream, oil and tomato and then a main hot dish, such a vegetable or fish stew. The final courses see loads of different Polish cakes and delicious stewed fruit compote.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Croatia<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI now live in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia,\u201d Dani says. \u201cThis country is also very religious, so they also typically dine on the 24th. The people here are very family orientated, so normally you will see all the generations all coming home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Croatian Christmas dinner typically features seafood, particularly bakalar (salted cod stew). Meat dishes like svinjsko pe\u010denje (roast pork), purica (turkey), and sarma (minced meat and rice in sour cabbage) are also common. Some families enjoy the meal at lunch instead of dinner.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Italy \u2013 The Feast of the Seven Fishes<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnother country where the meat-free tradition is observed, in spectacular style, is Italy,\u201d says Dani. Known as the \u2018Feast of the Seven Fishes\u2019 this epic Christmas Eve dinner party is one, I would love to share.\u201d<\/p>\n

While there is no set menu, there are a few dishes most families include, such as pasta made with\u00a0seven fish: clams, mussels, halibut, shrimp, anchovy, calamari and scallops. Alternatively, seven different kinds of seafood are spread out in dishes throughout the meal.<\/p>\n

This celebration commemorates the wait, the Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the Baby Jesus, and comes from Southern Italy, where it is known as The Vigil (La Vigilia), but with no mention of the number seven. \u201cThe Feast of the Seven Fishes is also big in the USA due to the Italian American immigration wave of the 1900s,\u201d says Dani.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zambia \u2013 A BBQ Feast<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis year I\u2019m going back to Zambia for Christmas,\u201d Dani tells us. \u201cAgain, religious tradition plays quite a big part so you will see some Africans abstaining form meat on the 24th and focusing on seafood. But normally the 25th is the big celebration.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is really hot in December so instead of sitting inside you\u2019ll be outside in the garden and star of the show will be a BBQ or a Braai as we call it in South Africa. Sometimes, we’ll have Turkey on the Bry and loads of salads, but always some kind of meat. We\u2019ll have it together with cranberry sauce, similar to the UK and US, but the major difference is that everyone goes swimming for the day rather than sitting by the fireplace!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Egypt – A Tale of Two Christmases<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOn the subject of sunny Christmases, did you know that in Egypt Christmas is celebrated twice?\u201d Dani shares. \u201cIt\u2019s known as a Coptic Christmas dinner.\u201d \u00a0Christmas in Egypt is celebrated on both December 25th and January 7th, with the latter date observed by Orthodox Christians using the Julian Calendar. Over 90% of Egypt’s 10 million Christians are Coptic Orthodox, with January 7th also a national holiday.<\/p>\n

The main distinction between the two is that Coptic Christians participate in \u2018The Holy Nativity Fast, which requires a strict vegan diet for 43 days, from November 25th to January 6th. \u201cFamilies take great pride in preparing their best dishes to enjoy after breaking such a long fast, it\u2019s a very special occasion,\u201d she continues.<\/p>\n

A Coptic Christmas dinner is, in many ways similar to a typical Western Christmas feast. The centerpiece is usually a Christmas turkey, surrounded by delicious traditional Egyptian dishes. A popular dish is “sarma,” which is pickled cabbage stuffed with meat, and “ajvar,” a Balkan-inspired dish made with roasted peppers and eggplant.\u00a0Rice pudding, made with milk, rice, sugar, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg is a tasty side dish, and for dessert, you might find baklava – layers of phyllo dough filled with nuts and syrup.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

UK \u2013 Turkey With All The Trimmings<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFor me there is something quite magical about an English Christmas,\u201d Dani says. \u201cThis is also why I love running Christmas Market tours in the run up to the holidays, because<\/p>\n

there’s something so magical about it being cold outside. All the family are inside, you know the fire is lit. I\u2019ve enjoyed a wonderful Christmas in England. I love the Christmas dinner with all the trimmings but I\u2019m not so sure about the Brussel sprouts!\u201d<\/p>\n

British Christmas dinner is a hearty meal, based on the traditional English roast, and is typically served as a lunch or late lunch on December 25th. The centerpiece is the turkey, often accompanied by stuffing made from breadcrumbs, herbs and sausage meat. It was in\u00a01851\u00a0that turkey first took center stage at the royals’ dinner table, however, it is worth noting that most families in Victorian England could not afford a turkey and ate goose instead.<\/p>\n

Alongside you will get crispy roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, carrots and parsnips, usually roasted. Gravy, cranberry sauce, bread sauce and Yorkshire pudding complete the picture.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor dessert they have a special Christmas pudding, which is set alight\u201d says Dani. This rich, fruity cake is ignited with brandy sauce and served with cream. \u201cThey also enjoy a Christmas cake, which is a rich, fruitcake traditionally made with dried fruits, nuts, and spices, often soaked in alcohol like rum or brandy. Frosted with marzipan and royal icing, it\u2019s usually beautifully decorated with festive scenes. Whoever bakes the cake takes a lot of pride in its presentation!\u201d<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cA local take on the British Christmas cake is the star of Christmas in Sri Lanka,\u201d says Dani. \u201cIt\u2019s been adapted with Sri Lankan flavors using regional ingredients.\u201d Sri Lanka\u2019s Christmas cake, inspired by British fruit cake, has evolved from its colonial origins to become a staple of Christmas. A Sri Lankan Christmas cake features raisins and cherries, along with preserved ginger, chayote in sugar syrup, preserved melon (puhul dosi), candied peel, sultanas and aromatic spices like nutmeg.<\/p>\n

\u201cFamilies come together to bake, with ingredient prepared long in advance, a favorite activity for children and their older relatives to share together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Christmas table often features stuffed chicken, duck, pork or mutton, along with savory rice dishes like fried rice, ghee rice and lumprice\u2014spicy rice wrapped in banana leaves with mixed meat curry. Milk wine, made from Arrack, sugar, condensed milk and spices, is served with the cake.<\/p>\n

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Keep Your Head in Norway<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are spending Christmas in other countries, there is a chance you could be offered something a bit out of your comfort zone,\u201d says Dani with a smile. \u201cFor example, in Norway you may be served a whole sheep\u2019s head. I have not tried it myself!\u201d<\/p>\n

Known as \u2018Smalahove,\u2019\u00a0the sheep’s head\u00a0is chopped in half and the brain removed. It is then soaked in water for two days. Then it is salt-cured, smoked and steamed, and served whole, together with potatoes and mashed swedes, beer and aquavit. Diners then tuck into the ears and eyes first, both considered the tastiest and most luxurious parts. This recipe goes back to old days when no part of an animal could be wasted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve eaten a lot of very strange growing up in Africa,\u201d says Dani. \u201cIn the end there is no difference; protein is protein, When I was little, we used to eat fried flying ants before we went swimming. And they were delicious, to be honest. These traditional foods and recipes have stood the test of time for a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve spent quite a few Christmases with other people’s families, and you’re so delighted to be invited you don\u2019t want to offend anyone. With more \u2018exotic\u2019 foods, it’s always the worst if you’re told what it is, then you already have a preconception of what it’s going taste like. So sometimes the best time is to just not tell anyone what it is!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Swedish Smorgasbord of Delicacies<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnother stunning Scandinavian country, Christmas dinner in Sweden revolves around a buffet known as julbord,\u201d Dani tells us. \u201cIt\u2019s a lovely communal way of eating and really showcases the country\u2019s produce at its finest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swedish tables feature a three-course meal, beginning with fish, often pickled herring, followed by an array of cold cuts, sausages, and cheeses surrounding a glazed ham centerpiece. They then enjoy a meatball and potato casserole called Janssons frestelse before indulging in sweets like saffron buns and rice pudding.<\/p>\n

Anything Goes<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever you eat, whether you are religious, or wherever you are it\u2019s about coming together. I\u2019ve also heard that in Japan people eat KFC, so really, anything goes!\u201d Says Dani. \u201cI wish everyone a great festive season.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stuffed turkeys, zesty oysters, crispy wafers and seven fishes. Whichever way or day you dine, Christmas dinner around the world takes many forms. To get the inside track on what culinary delights take center stage in various countries, we spoke to Travel Director Dani, this week\u2019s festive Insightful Travel Trivia expert. Dani also inspired this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":891635,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1826,1148,1937],"tags":[786,1996,57,254,65,75,1818,345,1921],"class_list":["post-891409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-experts-insiders","category-travel","category-travel-trivia","tag-asia","tag-christmas-dinner","tag-christmas-markets","tag-cuisine","tag-destinations","tag-europe","tag-post-template","tag-sri-lanka","tag-travel-trivia"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Christmas Dinner Looks Like Around the World<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tables laden with delicacies, fiery puddings and ancient recipes, Travel Director tells us why anything goes for Christmas 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