Holiday Foods from Around the World

While people from all over the world celebrate holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Eve, food traditions vary from place to place. Here’s a fascinating glimpse at some of the food customs from a few countries.

England

As far back as the 13th century, mince pies have been a beloved British Christmas tradition. Fighters returning from the Crusades brought back new and exotic spices that included nutmeg and cinnamon, so British cooks began using these spices in various dishes – one being pies filled with minced meat and dried fruits. Nowadays, these pies are often made with spiced fruits and sugars, rather than minced meat, and served as a sweet dish. 

France

The French enjoy eating oysters year-round, however, consumption of this delicacy greatly increases during this holiday season. So much so that about half of the country’s yearly oyster production is thought to be consumed between Christmas and New Year’s Day! 

Italy 

In Italy, New Year’s Eve is known as “La Festa di San Silvestro”, or St. Sylvester’s Feast. The celebration of this feast revolves around a large meal with loved ones and one traditional dish is a big pot of lentils. As legumes are believed to symbolize money and prosperity, Italians eat a lot of them in hopes of having wealth and success in the new year. 

Japan 

KFC. As in Kentucky Fried Chicken. Believe it or not, this is a must-have Christmas meal for many in Japan! In fact, people wait in long lines for hours outside of these fast-food restaurants on Christmas Eve for carryout fried chicken. Many even begin reserving buckets of chicken up to two months in advance.

Peru

In the month of December, churches all over the country take donations to make large quantities of spiced hot chocolate, as well as panettone (a traditional Italian bread). Both the bread and drink are served to those in need throughout the entire month. On Christmas Eve, also called Noche Buena, Peruvians celebrate with a festive holiday meal that often includes tamales or a roast turkey.

Philippines

Purple rice. Yes, you read that correctly. Puto bumbong, a rice cake made of rice cooked in bamboo tubes before being steamed, is one of the most popular holiday foods in the Philippines. During the Christmas season, and especially following Christmas Eve church services, people line up in the street to get this sweet treat from vendors. It gets its color from a mixture of sweet and black rice and is usually topped with butter, sugar, and grated coconut after it’s cooked.

Sicily

Christmas in Sicily and Southern Italy is celebrated with the “Feast of the Seven Fishes”. As Roman Catholics traditionally fast on Christmas Eve, a sacred meal with at least seven different types of fish is a special event. A few of the popular fish dishes that are served are baccalà, calamari, shrimp, and cod.

Perhaps now you’ll be inspired to try one of these and start a new tradition. Or maybe you’ll create one that’s unique to you and your family!

All of us at Blue Plate Catering wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a fabulous 2016!