Italy
For Italian Christians, Christmas eve typically marks a day of fasting. However, shrimp and fish are occasionally offered on Christmas Eve.
Italian Christmas antipasti
On Natale, Christmas Day, lunch is a large family gathering that features a lavish spread with many of different foods. Together, family members cook a wide range of foods such as lasagna or ravioli pasta, roasted chicken, braised beef, filled veal rolls, or roast pork, in addition to delectable antipasti and pre-dinner snacks. Not to mention the delectable treats.
Panettone
A fluffy, sweet pleasure is Italian panettone! It is customary to start eating sweet bread, sometimes known as yeast cake, in the final few weeks before Christmas. Panettone comes in a variety of varieties; some are plain, while others are baked with raisins and dried fruits. A few even have chocolate inside!
The famous northern Italian city of Milan is the original source of panettone, a circular, dome-shaped cake or bread. The Italian word for bread is pane, thus panettone literally translates to "big loaf of bread." Find out more about Italian Christmases here.
Germany
Christmas Eve marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Germany, when families get together to unwrap gifts and exchange them around the Christmas tree. Christmas carols are sung by many families, and younger children occasionally recite Christmas poems that they were taught in school or kindergarten.
Vienna sausages and potato salad
A straightforward meal follows the events' first social segment. On Christmas Eve, many families customarily enjoy straightforward meals like potato salad and sausages.
German Christmas stollen
German Christmas sweets include Christmas biscuits like Zimtsterne (cinnamon star biscuits) and Stollen, a yeast cake log with raisins.
Families reunite on Christmas Day, December 25, for a meal that frequently consists of entrée (roasted duck) or occasionally game meat. The most common side dishes for the beef are Knödel, or potato dumplings, and Rotkraut, or braised red cabbage.
Finland
On December 24, or Christmas Eve, people in Finland have their traditional Christmas meal.
Beetroot salad, Christmas ham, salmon, herring, and other vegetable casseroles are served with the traditional Finnish Christmas lunch.
Sweet dishes such as joulutorttu (star-shaped plum tarts), rice pudding, and gingerbread cookies are traditionally served.
Poland
In Poland, the Christmas Eve Supper is known as Wigilia. When dinner is given in the evening, the day's fast comes to a conclusion. The first opłatek, or wafer, is traditionally broken and distributed among the family members. Families typically sing Christmas songs after supper.
The customary twelve dishes are served at the Christmas Eve Supper. But none of the dishes have any meat in them. The most well-liked foods are pierogi (filled dumplings), barszcz (a rich crimson soup made from beetroot), carp, kutia (a grain dish), and jellied fish.
Pierogi dumplings from Poland
Pierogi are dumplings that are frequently stuffed with plums or poppy seeds. You can also serve these dumplings with savory ingredients like cabbage or mushrooms.
Austria
Austrian Christmas Roast
On Christmas Eve, Austrians typically eat roast potatoes, sausages with sauerkraut, and a light traditional soup. Austrians celebrate Christmas supper on December 25th, which consists of roasted duck or geese or fish, particularly carp.
Vanillekipferl
Vanillekipferl are a delectable holiday confection. Vanilla sugar is used to dust the tiny almond cookies in the shape of crescents. These shortbread cookies are a delicious treat that melts in your mouth.
UK
Christmas is observed on December 25 in the United Kingdom with a lavish supper. Christmas lunch, also known as a special "Christmas dinner," is an early afternoon gathering of the family.
Stuffed turkey, roasted potatoes, brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, and gammon—cured pork meat—are among the traditional Christmas fare.
Mince pies
Christmas pudding and mince pies are a particular treat for everyone with a sweet taste.
A month before Christmas, the English Christmas pudding is made, which is essentially a steamed fruitcake. Since only plums were used in the old recipes, the Christmas pudding was originally known as "plum pudding." However, these days, dried fruits, raisins, and nuts are the key ingredients.
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