5 Typical Christmas Foods From Around the World

December 25, 2024 | 02:37 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Every country in various parts of the world has different traditions of dishes during Christmas celebrations. Typical food from a country is a cultural symbol and has its own philosophical meaning. Here are some foods that are usually served at Christmas from several countries in the world.

1. Barszcz from Poland

Reported from National Geographic, barszcz is part of the Christmas Eve meal when the first star appears at night. Usually there are 12 dishes served representing the 12 apostles and 12 months. The mandatory thing to have at this event is usually an appetizer in the form of beetroot soup called arszcz.

This food is made with beetroot boiled with vegetable stock and vinegar. Then add a little garlic, then everything is strained to produce a brightly colored broth. Traditionally, beets are served with small dumplings filled with mushrooms known as uszka or small ears.

As the main course there is steamed carp and pierogi or similar to dumplings. In addition, there must also be desserts such as roasted poppy seeds. This food is usually eaten with family after Christmas mass.

2. Bibingka Cake from the Philippines

This cake is a type of wet cake made from rice flour. Bibingka cake is made from rice flour mixed with coconut milk, butter, and eggs. This typical Filipino food is cooked using hot coals in a traditional clay pot lined with banana leaves.

For a more interesting variant, bibingka cake is usually sprinkled with melted cheese, salted eggs, or grated coconut in abundance. This cake is usually eaten for breakfast after Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass) on Christmas Eve.

3. Pinnekjøtt from Norway

Norway is one of the Nordic countries that experiences a long and very cold winter. On Christmas Eve on December 24, they usually carry out the tradition of grilling lamb ribs in a wood-fired stove. This dish is called pinnekjøtt or lamb ribs. Grilled pinnekjøtt has usually been dried, preserved, or smoked beforehand.

Then it is slowly cooked over birch wood until the meat is juicy and tender. Pinnekjøtt is usually served with mashed carrots, which are given sweet lingonberry jam. Also accompanied by akevitt, a type of traditional Scandinavian alcoholic drink flavored with spices such as fennel, cumin, and star anise.

4. Christopsomo from Greece

Quoted from Taste of Home, on Christmas Eve, families in Greece will eat the main dish of roast lamb. Generally every family in Greece will eat this dish on Christmas Eve. In the northern region of the country, usually roast lamb will be eaten with yiaprakia or a type of cabbage roll filled with salted pork.

As a dessert, they will eat christopsomo, a sweet rustic bread filled with raisins, nuts, cardamom, and cloves. The bread is decorated with a cross and turned into a delicious main decoration at Christmas. The tradition of eating christopsomo has been carried out for centuries.

5. Sopa de galets from Spain

There is a unique tradition in the Catalonia region, Spain. During Christmas lunch, people there will make sopa de galettes or meat soup served with pasta shells. This dish is made from beef bone broth, filled with ham, chicken breast, pig's feet, and vegetables, which are simmered for several hours.

Then as a complement, they will roll beef with fresh minced pork into small balls and put them in the broth with galets, giant pasta shells called catalonia.

Editor's Choice: 6 Christmas Traditions in Indonesia, from Rabo-rabo in Jakarta to Kunci Taon in Manado

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