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Oysters, Schweinswurst and Pavlova: Xmas & New Year Meals Around the World

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Many of the best and most interesting holiday traditions in celebrating some of the most anticipated winter holidays for almost any person in any culture on our planet include food — Christmas and New Year's are no exception.
There are many unique treats, recipes, and meals that various cultures make and consume on December 31 or January 1 to bring good luck in the upcoming New Year. In Spain, people prefer grapes. In Turkey, the thing is all about pomegranates. Cornbread, fish, and noodles are just a couple more examples of auspicious foods eaten around the world to kick off a fresh year.
Those New Year's Eve food traditions have a layered, deep meaning that should be explored as we head into the holiday season. Who knows, they might even inspire to start a new tradition in 2023 or change a New Year's Eve party menu.
© Photo : Unsplash/Claudio Schwarz

Christmas dinner in the United States is not complete without a roast turkey. The Christmas turkey tradition can be traced back to Henry VIII, who decided to make the bird a staple for the festive day.

Christmas dinner in the United States is not complete without a roast turkey. The Christmas turkey tradition can be traced back to Henry VIII, who decided to make the bird a staple for the festive day. - Sputnik International
1/15

Christmas dinner in the United States is not complete without a roast turkey. The Christmas turkey tradition can be traced back to Henry VIII, who decided to make the bird a staple for the festive day.

© AFP 2023 / Lionel Bonaventure

In France, oysters are one of the most popular dishes on a Christmas table.

In France, oysters are one of the most popular dishes on a Christmas table. - Sputnik International
2/15

In France, oysters are one of the most popular dishes on a Christmas table.

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Ed g2s / A Christmas pudding being flamed (cropped photo)

Christmas pudding (aka plum pudding) is served after Christmas dinner in Britain and Ireland. It’s also popular in Australia and other places with British immigrants.

Christmas pudding (aka plum pudding) is served after Christmas dinner in Britain and Ireland. It’s also popular in Australia and other places with British immigrants. - Sputnik International
3/15

Christmas pudding (aka plum pudding) is served after Christmas dinner in Britain and Ireland. It’s also popular in Australia and other places with British immigrants.

CC BY 3.0 / Tamorlan / Pieza completa de turrón (Casa Mira)

Spanish turrón, a southwestern European nougat confection (Casa Mira), is a popular sweet treat during holiday season in Spain.

Spanish turrón, a southwestern European nougat confection (Casa Mira), is a popular sweet treat during holiday season in Spain.  - Sputnik International
4/15

Spanish turrón, a southwestern European nougat confection (Casa Mira), is a popular sweet treat during holiday season in Spain.

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Kgbo / Christmas food of Poland, Christmas Eve dinner, Brisbane, 2020 (cropped photo)

Christmas Eve carp, a traditional dish served in Poland for Christmas Eve dinner, Brisbane, 2020.

Christmas Eve carp, a traditional dish served in Poland for Christmas Eve dinner, Brisbane, 2020. - Sputnik International
5/15

Christmas Eve carp, a traditional dish served in Poland for Christmas Eve dinner, Brisbane, 2020.

© Photo : Unsplash/Monika Grabkowska

Gingerbread is a traditional Christmas treat in Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Scandinavia.

Gingerbread is a traditional Christmas treat in Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Scandinavia. - Sputnik International
6/15

Gingerbread is a traditional Christmas treat in Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Scandinavia.

CC BY 2.5 / Blueberry pancake / A homemade pavlova decorated with pomegranate seeds and chantilly cream

A homemade Pavlova dessert decorated with pomegranate seeds and chantilly cream. A meringue-based dessert, originating in either Australia or New Zealand in the early 20th century. It was named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.

A homemade Pavlova dessert decorated with pomegranate seeds and chantilly cream. A meringue-based dessert, originating in either Australia or New Zealand in the early 20th century. It was named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. - Sputnik International
7/15

A homemade Pavlova dessert decorated with pomegranate seeds and chantilly cream. A meringue-based dessert, originating in either Australia or New Zealand in the early 20th century. It was named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Jürgen Howaldt / Christmas goose (Weihnachtsgans)

Christmas goose (Weihnachtsgans), a traditional German dish that's prepared for Christmas. It's a roasted goose that's typically filled with onions, prunes, chestnuts, apples, and/or dates.

Christmas goose (Weihnachtsgans), a traditional German dish that's prepared for Christmas. It's a roasted goose that's typically filled with onions, prunes, chestnuts, apples, and/or dates. - Sputnik International
8/15

Christmas goose (Weihnachtsgans), a traditional German dish that's prepared for Christmas. It's a roasted goose that's typically filled with onions, prunes, chestnuts, apples, and/or dates.

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Phil! Gregory / I made Black Bean & Goat Cheese Tamales the other day. They were tasty.

An authentic and delicious Black bean tamales with fresh goat cheese, a traditional Christmas dish in Mexico and Central America. Tamales are a Latin American tradition because of the pork and the corn. Because corn is the color of gold, it also means wealth and prosperity.

An authentic and delicious Black bean tamales with fresh goat cheese, a traditional Christmas dish in Mexico and Central America. Tamales are a Latin American tradition because of the pork and the corn. Because corn is the color of gold, it also means wealth and prosperity. - Sputnik International
9/15

An authentic and delicious Black bean tamales with fresh goat cheese, a traditional Christmas dish in Mexico and Central America. Tamales are a Latin American tradition because of the pork and the corn. Because corn is the color of gold, it also means wealth and prosperity.

CC BY 3.0 / JIP / A slightly more modern version of the traditional Finnish joulupöytä Christmas meal. This dinner includes potato casserole, rosolli, gravlax, caviar, herring, olives, and various cheeses. The traditional Christmas ham has been replaced with a soy version. A slightly more modern version of the traditional Finnish joulupöytä Christmas meal. This dinner includes potato casserole, rosolli, gravlax, caviar, herring, olives, and various cheeses. The traditional Christmas ham has been replaced with a soy version.
Финская рождественская еда - картофельная запеканка, росолли, гравлакс, икра, сельдь, оливки и различные сыры - Sputnik International
10/15
A slightly more modern version of the traditional Finnish joulupöytä Christmas meal. This dinner includes potato casserole, rosolli, gravlax, caviar, herring, olives, and various cheeses. The traditional Christmas ham has been replaced with a soy version.
CC BY-SA 3.0 / ぷいぷい / 年越し蕎麦

Toshikoshi soba, a New Year's Eve noodles in Japan. Goldsmiths used to use the fine soba flour to collect stray gold dust or gold lacquer, as it picked up the gold easily. Through this, eating soba is said to bring gold to the household for the coming year.

Toshikoshi soba, a New Year's Eve noodles in Japan. Goldsmiths used to use the fine soba flour to collect stray gold dust or gold lacquer, as it picked up the gold easily. Through this, eating soba is said to bring gold to the household for the coming year. - Sputnik International
11/15

Toshikoshi soba, a New Year's Eve noodles in Japan. Goldsmiths used to use the fine soba flour to collect stray gold dust or gold lacquer, as it picked up the gold easily. Through this, eating soba is said to bring gold to the household for the coming year.

CC BY 2.0 / Tanakawho / For the new year

Japanese decorate "Tokonoma", a recessed space in a Japanese-style reception room, in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed, with these stacks of mochi-cakes called "Kagami mochi". People used to make them themselves in older days, but recently they are sold wrapped like this at rice-shops or wagashi shops.

Japanese decorate "Tokonoma", a recessed space in a Japanese-style reception room, in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed, with these stacks of mochi-cakes called "Kagami mochi". People used to make them themselves in older days, but recently they are sold wrapped like this at rice-shops or wagashi shops. - Sputnik International
12/15

Japanese decorate "Tokonoma", a recessed space in a Japanese-style reception room, in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed, with these stacks of mochi-cakes called "Kagami mochi". People used to make them themselves in older days, but recently they are sold wrapped like this at rice-shops or wagashi shops.

© Sputnik / Natalia Seliverstova / Go to the mediabank

Salade Olivier or commonly known as Russian salad on the New Year's table. Russian salad in Russia is called Olivier, by the name of its creator – French chef Lucien Olivier. Olivier salad is a traditional salad dish in Russian cuisine, which is also popular in other post-Soviet countries and around the world.

Salade Olivier or commonly known as Russian salad on the New Year's table. Russian salad in Russia is called Olivier, by the name of its creator – French chef Lucien Olivier. Olivier salad is a traditional salad dish in Russian cuisine, which is also popular in other post-Soviet countries and around the world. - Sputnik International
13/15

Salade Olivier or commonly known as Russian salad on the New Year's table. Russian salad in Russia is called Olivier, by the name of its creator – French chef Lucien Olivier. Olivier salad is a traditional salad dish in Russian cuisine, which is also popular in other post-Soviet countries and around the world.

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Popo le Chien / Cotechino, a popular Italian holiday food, served with lentils

Cotechino, an Italian holiday food, which originated in Modena and are usually paired with stewed lentils. A staple during Christmas or New Year’s dinners, cotechino and zampone are holiday classics. Paired with lentils (said to bring good luck) or mashed potatoes, they are the symbol of an ancient tradition.

Cotechino, an Italian holiday food, which originated in Modena and are usually paired with stewed lentils. A staple during Christmas or New Year’s dinners, cotechino and zampone are holiday classics. Paired with lentils (said to bring good luck) or mashed potatoes, they are the symbol of an ancient tradition. - Sputnik International
14/15

Cotechino, an Italian holiday food, which originated in Modena and are usually paired with stewed lentils. A staple during Christmas or New Year’s dinners, cotechino and zampone are holiday classics. Paired with lentils (said to bring good luck) or mashed potatoes, they are the symbol of an ancient tradition.

CC BY-SA 2.0 / James E. Petts / Christmas cake

A British-style Christmas cake with marzipan and icing. In England, Christmas cake is an tradition that began as plum porridge. People ate the porridge on Christmas Eve, using it to line their stomachs after a day of fasting. Soon, dried fruit, spices and honey were added to the porridge mixture, and eventually, it turned into Christmas pudding.

A British-style Christmas cake with marzipan and icing. In England, Christmas cake is an tradition that began as plum porridge. People ate the porridge on Christmas Eve, using it to line their stomachs after a day of fasting. Soon, dried fruit, spices and honey were added to the porridge mixture, and eventually, it turned into Christmas pudding. - Sputnik International
15/15

A British-style Christmas cake with marzipan and icing. In England, Christmas cake is an tradition that began as plum porridge. People ate the porridge on Christmas Eve, using it to line their stomachs after a day of fasting. Soon, dried fruit, spices and honey were added to the porridge mixture, and eventually, it turned into Christmas pudding.

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