Christmas Foods Across the Globe: Traditions, Health, and Evolution

Key Takeaways

• While many countries (including Sweden, Germany, Mexico, the UK, and the US) traditionally celebrate Christmas with high-fat and carbohydrate-rich meals, others (including Poland, Italy, Australia, Kenya, and Japan) traditionally prefer lean meats, seafood, and low-calorie dishes.

• People in Poland tend to have the healthiest Christmas feasts, with nutritious and low-calorie dishes including beet soup, fried carp, and pierogi (dumplings typically filled with potato, cheese, or sauerkraut).
• The traditional Christmas dinner in Italy is the Feast of Seven Fish, which usually consists of seven different seafood dishes, symbolizing the seven sacraments or the seven days of Creation.
• Due to the warm weather, many Australians celebrate Christmas over a fresh seafood platter and outdoor barbecue, which greatly contrasts traditions in the Northern Hemisphere.
• People in Japan have a unique modern approach to Christmas, with a bucket of KFC and strawberry shortcake being the most common dishes. 
• Germany is one of the few countries that’s largely retained the tradition of roasted goose for Christmas, commonly served with red cabbage and potato dumplings.

From seven-course feasts to seafood platters and festive buffets, traditional Christmas meals vary significantly between countries. While the core idea of celebrating with family, friends, and abundant food is nearly universal, the dishes that define Christmas meals across the globe are as diverse as the cultures themselves.

With Christmas just around the corner, we at DeliveryRank analyzed the cultural significance and nutritional value of the most popular holiday meals in different parts of the world, as well as their evolution over the years. 

To provide a global perspective, we chose the following countries to have a wide representation, considering their respective cuisine's influence globally:

• Europe: United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Italy
• North America: United States, Mexico
• Asia: Japan, Philippines
• Africa: Kenya
• Oceania: Australia

Let’s dive in.

The Healthiest Christmas Traditions: Low-Calorie Feasts Around the World

While winter holidays are often associated with high-fat foods and overindulgence, some countries have surprisingly healthy traditional Christmas dishes. Good examples of this are Australia, Poland, and Italy. 

Poland is often praised for having the healthiest Christmas meal. The Christmas Eve dinner, known as Wigilia, is preceded by a strict fast that begins at sunrise on Christmas Eve. The fast is broken when the first star appears in the evening sky; a feast is then served with traditional dishes such as beet soup, fried carp, and pierogi (dumplings typically filled with potato, cheese, or sauerkraut). 

Unlike in many other cultures, there is no red meat served during a traditional Polish Christmas dinner. 

Italians also often abstain from meat in the days leading up to Christmas. The traditional Christmas dinner in Italy is the Feast of Seven Fish, which usually consists of seven different seafood dishes symbolizing the seven sacraments or the seven days of Creation. A common Christmas dessert in Italy is panettone, a type of sweet bread filled with sultana raisins and candied fruits. 

In Southern Italy, eel is a traditional dish served during Christmas, particularly on Christmas Eve, as part of the La Vigilia feast.

Christmas is celebrated during the Australian summer, when classic Christmas dishes for colder regions, like roast meat and plum pudding, aren’t very palatable (making them uncommon in the region). 

Instead, many Australians celebrate Christmas over an outdoor barbecue and fresh seafood platter. Prawns, which are naturally low-calorie and protein-rich, are the most common dish on an Australian Christmas menu.

This is often accompanied by cold meats and grilled vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers.

Occasionally, kangaroo meat is used for Christmas meals as a lean, environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional meats like turkey or ham.

Another classic Australian Christmas dish is the pavlova, a meringue-based dessert with a crisp exterior and soft interior, typically topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. It is a common light dessert after a heavy Christmas dinner and a staple in Australian cuisine. 

The Japanese also have a unique and modern approach to Christmas. Instead of the huge Christmas feast with traditional Western dishes and customs, a bucket of KFC is often the main course on Christmas day, followed by strawberry shortcake as dessert. 

In Kenya, the traditional Christmas meal is the nyama choma, a specialty of grilled or barbecued goat meat. Goat meat is considered one of the healthier red meats as it is naturally lean and much lower in calories and fat than turkey. This is accompanied by simple side dishes such as rice and fresh baked chapati, a traditional flatbread made of all-purpose wheat flour.

Indulgent Feasts and Exotic Ingredients

In many countries, the festive season is a time when overeating and indulgence in high-calorie foods is the norm. These meals are typically high in saturated fats, sugars, and carbohydrates, and are often served in large quantities. Moreover, celebrations are not always limited to the few days around Christmas.

For instance, the people of the Philippines start celebrating as early as September, making it the longest-running Christmas celebration in the world. At the heart of their Christmas table is lechon, a popular Filipino dish consisting of a whole pig typically spit-roasted slowly over charcoal. 

Babinka, a traditional rice cake made from a batter of rice flour baked in banana leaves, is another Christmas favorite in the Philippines. Although an acquired taste, Balut (fertilized duck egg) is sometimes enjoyed as an exotic festive snack during Christmas celebrations in the Philippines. 

In Sweden, the traditional Christmas meal, known as Julbord, is a festive buffet featuring a wide array of dishes. Key elements of the Julbord include ham which is often glazed with mustard and brown sugar, pickled herring available in various flavors like mustard, onion, and garlic, and the famous Swedish meatballs. 

A beloved Christmas tradition in Sweden is making pepparkakor — gingerbread cookies often baked in various shapes such as hearts, stars, and angels. As part of the Christmas celebrations, children often make gingerbread houses.

In Germany, the traditional Christmas meal often features a hearty and festive spread that varies by region but commonly includes roast goose or duck, served with red cabbage and potato dumplings. Goose meat is considerably higher in fat and calories than turkey.

Sauerbraten, traditionally made with marinated beef, is occasionally prepared with horse meat as a more exotic option. For dessert, stollen, a fruit-filled bread dusted with powdered sugar, is a Christmas staple.

In Mexico, at the center of the Christmas table are tamales, corn dough filled with various meats, chilies, or sweets and wrapped in corn husks. Tamales represent family unity as they are made in large quantities with the help of many people, reflecting a tradition of communal cooking.

This dish is often accompanied by bacalao, salted cod in a tomato-based sauce. This is a much healthier dish than the carbohydrate-rich tamales but is considerably higher in sodium. Romeritos, a green herb served with shrimp and potatoes, is also a common Christmas dish in Mexico. 

In both the United Kingdom and the United States, Christmas feasts typically revolve around a roasted turkey as the centerpiece of the meal. In the UK, the turkey is often served with trimming, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and gravy, along with pigs in blankets (small sausages wrapped in bacon).

Christmas pudding, a rich, steamed fruitcake soaked in brandy and served with brandy butter or custard, is the traditional dessert.

In the United States the Christmas meal is often similar, with turkey accompanied by mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, and cranberry sauce. Some regions may include ham as an alternative or addition to turkey, and dessert favorites include pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie. 

As you can see below, each country has its own exotic dish typically served during the Christmas season.

Plant-Based Innovations

Plant-based Christmas dishes are increasingly featured in holiday meals around the world, with many countries adapting traditional dishes to plant-based diets. 

For example in the United Kingdom, plant-based alternatives to the classic turkey include nut roasts and roasted root vegetables, which reflect the UK's growing trend toward vegetarian and vegan options even during traditional feasts.

In Sweden, julbord (the Christmas buffet) has seen the inclusion of the vegetarian version of Janssons Frestelse, which substitutes the fish with mushrooms or seaweed. This largely retains the original flavor of the creamy potato casserole, while making it plant-based. 

The focus on plant-based dishes during Christmas reflects a broader cultural shift toward environmental consciousness, inclusivity, and the desire to create festive meals that are both compassionate and environmentally friendly.

Below, you can see some of the most popular plant-based Christmas dishes across the globe.

Evolution of Christmas Cuisine: Past to Present

As a result of changing social, economic, and cultural trends, Christmas cuisine has evolved significantly over the years. 

During the 19th century, roasted goose was the staple of the Christmas dinner, especially in Europe. The logic was simple — geese laid eggs only seasonally, so they were seen as less valuable than hens and cows for providing sustenance for the family during winter. 

However, due to its larger size, lower cost, and easier availability in the late 19th and early 20th century, the turkey became the Christmas centerpiece in many households. 

Another favorite, Christmas pudding, dates as far back as the 14th century when it was called frumenty and made of porridge with beef or mutton, raisins, prunes, wines, and spices. It was often eaten as a fasting meal before the Christmas celebrations began. 

During the Victorian era, the Christmas pudding became more prominent at the festive table. It was during this time that the tradition of making the Christmas pudding on Stir Up Sunday, the fifth Sunday before Christmas, began — a tradition that continues to this day. 

Glazed ham, which is the essential ingredient of the Christmas feast in many parts of the world, also dates back centuries. In Tudor England, the boar's head was a common centerpiece on the Christmas tables of the wealthiest families. It became massively popular in the 1950s when the practice of glazing ham in brown sugar began. 

Another Christmas staple, panettone, originated in Milan during the 1400s when people celebrated Christmas with bread richer than the one they ate every day. Early versions were made from simple ingredients like flour, butter, and eggs. However, the recipe we know and love today was perfected in the 19th century with the addition of yeast and cubes of candied fruits, which made the cake taller and fluffier. 

Another Christmas favorite, mincemeat, is believed to have originated in Middle Eastern cuisine in the 12th century. It was originally a savory dish made from minced meat (often beef or lamb), suet, and a mix of spices, fruits, and wine. 

Over time, particularly in 19th-century England, the meat was gradually replaced by more fruits, suet, and alcohol, while the name "mincemeat" stuck. It gradually became associated with Christmas, especially in the form of pies.

Future of Festive Food: Trends and Sustainability

Christmas cuisine will continue to develop with time, and likely new trends will evolve with our changing needs. As people increasingly prioritize environmental concerns, for example, there is an increasing shift toward plant-based and locally sourced ingredients. In the future, traditional dishes like turkey and stuffing may be joined by meat alternatives such as plant-based roasts or cultivated meats.

As interest in nutrition and healthy eating continues to rise, Christmas menus will increasingly feature lighter, more nutrient-dense options. This could mean the inclusion of vibrant vegetable-based dishes, gluten-free alternatives, and desserts with reduced sugar content.

Looking at the evolution of Christmas menus in different parts of the world, each country has different modern twists to old favorites. 

For instance in Poland, modern variations of pierogi include cheese and spinach filling instead of the traditional potato and sauerkraut. In the UK, ingredients like brandy butter and exotic fruits are becoming common side dishes to the traditional roast turkey with trimmings for Christmas dinner. 

In the US, variations such as deep-fried turkey and cranberry-stuffed rolls add a modern touch to the Christmas table. In Mexico, new variations of tamales with cheese or fruit fillings represent a low-fat alternative to the traditional pork-filled tamales.

Looking at these trends, what becomes clear is that the future of Christmas food will be marked by experimentation, inclusivity, and a celebration of diverse culinary traditions, offering something for every taste and dietary preference.

The Christmas Meal: A Continually Developing Tradition

Christmas meals around the world reflect each culture's unique traditions and resources, while also evolving to meet modern health and sustainability trends. As modern trends in health and sustainability grow, many Christmas dishes are evolving to include plant-based options and environmentally friendly ingredients. 

These changes highlight the adaptability of holiday traditions, ensuring that Christmas meals continue to bring joy while also embracing modern needs and concerns.