Season’s eatings: Ten VERY different Christmas meals from around the world, from KFC in Japan to pickled herring in Sweden and prawns in Australia
KFC. Borsch. Shrimps.
Christmas dishes can vary greatly from country to country.
Here we present ten popular Christmas treats around the world.
We think you’ll find it Clausistically fascinating…
KFC – Japan
Forget carving the turkey: in Japan, millions of people eat KFC fried chicken at Christmas.
Instead of feasting on turkey, many Japanese eat buckets of KFC chicken during the festive period.
KFC meals have become synonymous with Christmas, with some customers ordering them weeks in advance.
The tradition began back in the 1970s with the “Kentucky for Christmas” marketing campaign.
It was created by Takeshi Okawara, manager of Japan’s first KFC, to entice tourists and expats who couldn’t find a turkey to eat at Christmas, explains BBC.
Now millions of people in Japan sit down to eat KFC on Christmas Day, ordered from stores with Colonel Sanders mascots on the street.
Roscón de Reyes – Spain
The photo shows a donut-shaped cake eaten on January 6th in Spain called Roscon de Reyes.
Christmas in Spain is a real pleasure. Celebrations begin in mid-December and continue until January 6 – the day of Epiphany.
On the morning of this day or the night before, it is traditional to eat a donut-shaped cake called Roscon de Reyes, which roughly translates to “King Cake.”
It is filled with cream, covered with candied fruits, and hidden inside are beans and a small toy. Find a toy and you will be happy all year, they say. Find a bean and you’ll pay next year’s cake bill.
Bulgogi and kimchi – South Korea
If you’re dining in South Korea at Christmas, you might find bulgogi or kimchi (both pictured above) on the table.
Instead of the traditional roasted Christmas dinner in South Korea, the table may be served with bulgogi—thin marinated slices of meat—or kimchi.
Other holiday favorites by version Eastern store These are sweet potato noodles and tteokguk, a rice cake filled with meat or seafood and served with a clear broth.
The website says many young Koreans may share the Christmas meal with their partners or friends and reserve New Year’s Eve for family.
Oysters – France
Oyster shucking is a popular Christmas tradition in France, usually on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the French hold a nightly feast called Le Reveillon.
Family and friends gather to enjoy a sumptuous dinner, notes Web site Lou Messugo, This is usually accompanied by fine wine and champagne.
Dishes will include a wide variety of seafood including oysters, shrimp, crab and lobster. Smoked salmon, scallops and snails are also popular, the website says.
Pickled herring – Sweden
Swedes enjoy pickled herring at Christmas along with cinnamon-flavored beer.
The Swedes celebrate Christmas, known as Julbord, which literally translates to “Christmas Table”.
The gourmet dish usually includes pickled herring, he said. swedishfood.comas well as cold cuts, pates and terrines, hot dishes and desserts.
The buffet is often accompanied by a glögg (Swedish mulled wine), a cocktail or jull, a Christmas beer flavored with cinnamon, orange zest and vanilla.
Shrimp – Australia
Australians typically eat around 22,000 tonnes of prawns over the festive period.
Australian Christmas falls at the height of summer – too hot to spend time in the kitchen.
A typical Christmas Down Under includes a barbecue with grilled meats, salads and plenty of cool beer.
Seafood is also a popular Christmas tradition. Marine Stewardship Council. During the festive period, Australians typically eat around 22,000 tonnes of prawns – the equivalent of 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Stollen cake – Germany
In Germany, the spiced and fruity Stollen cake is commonly eaten at Christmas.
Germany is home to many sweet holiday treats, including the spiced and fruity Stollen cake, known in Germany as Weihnachtsstollen or Christstollen.
The traditional holiday bread dates back to 14th century Germany and was baked at Christmas to honor members of the royal family and church clergy. Promising traveler speaks.
It is believed that Stollen’s “hump” symbolizes the camels that carried gifts to Jesus on the first Christmas.
“The preparation of fruits and raisins alludes to the jewels and gifts given to Jesus at Christmas,” the site says.
Beet soup – Poland
Beetroot soup or borscht is a traditional snack usually eaten on Christmas Eve in Poland.
Christmas celebrations in Poland usually begin on Christmas Eve with a dinner known as Wigilia.
A formal meal is celebrated and served on a table covered with a white tablecloth, according to tradition. Polish Tourism Organization.
It will feature culinary customs such as beetroot soup or borscht, a traditional appetizer that can be served hot or cold, along with a variety of fish, noodles and sweet treats.
Christmas Pudding – UK
Christmas pudding has been a fixture of British tables for many years.
The traditional British Christmas dinner is often controversial, from when to cook it to whether to include Brussels sprouts or Yorkshire pudding.
But if there’s one thing Brits can agree on, it’s Christmas pudding. Sweet dried fruit pudding has been an integral part of the British table for centuries.
Visitors can buy it at almost any supermarket or prepare the mixture several weeks before the big day.
Bibingka and puto bumbong – Philippines
Two rice dishes, Bibingka (above) and Puto Bumbong (below), are eaten in the Philippines during the long celebrations before Christmas.
Bibingka and puto bumbong are popular desserts in the Philippines, especially during the Christmas season.
“Bibinka” is a sponge cake with a buttery taste, explains www.wazzuppilipinas.comalthough puto bumbong is a rice cake dessert, as the post notes, it is made from glutinous rice flour cooked in bamboo tubes, resulting in a purple texture.
Traditionally the latter is served with grated coconut and brown sugar.