Last year, my favourite Blogmas post was all about Christmas Around The World. I loved it so much that I decided to do a different version this year which focuses on Christmas Dinner around the world. I have friends all across the globe and I find it so fascinating to see how traditions vary from country to country, so I thought it would be fun to share some Christmas Dinners from across the globe.
Germany
“In the south of Germany, a lot of people eat fish, but all over Germany it’s usually either roast meat with different sides or sausages with potato salads. We always used to have roast venison with red kraut and dumplings or noodles, but it’s really different in every family. We have that meal on the 24th. Some people meet with their family on the 25th and only have a meal at home on the 24th, just parents and children. We go out and eat with dad’s side of the family on the 26th and eat roast with my mum’s side on the 24th, not doing anything on actual Christmas Day.” – Laura
United States
” We usually have a honey-baked ham, green bean casserole, creamed corn or some other veggie, yams, maybe cranberry too. Some bread rolls and whatever else we feel like cooking up. That’s usually like at 4, after we spent all morning eating candy and dunkin donuts for breakfast lol! Chinese food for Christmas dinner is big in the US, too.”- Alex. Check out her site Keep It Nerdy!
Denmark
“In Denmark, we get a lot of food! Besides vegetables such as potatoes and red cabbage, the main meat people get is roast pork, roast duck or sausages as well as gravy. For dessert, people either get rice pudding or ris a la mande. It’s all so good.” – Line
Russia 
“My dad is from Russia so we have often had a traditional Russian Christmas dinner. We have Selyodka pod Shuboy (in English known as herring in a fur coat) which is layered salad which is traditional for the holidays and is a real staple to holiday feasts. It’s layered with mayonnaise, beets, potatoes, diced hard boiled eggs and herring.” – Kayla
Taiwan
“There are two main types of Christmas dinner in Taiwan, none of them involved family. One is for couples and the other is for friends gathering. The dinner itself is normally western food instead of Chinese/ Asian food and there is normally gift exchange involved. For couples, Christmas dinners are treated as a Valentine’s day dinner, romantic setting with fancy wine, chocolate, flower and expensive presents. It is not an occasion that you eat at home, restaurants are normally fully booked, one needs to book rather in advance for those more famous places. As for friends’ gathering, it is again normally eating out instead of a home cook meal. Booking a decent restaurant can be a nightmare around Christmas!” – Patricia. Check out her website!
Barbados
“In Barbados, food is a big part of Christmas. So much so that many stay up late on Christmas Eve slaving away in the kitchen to produce the feast for the next day. For us, it’s more like Christmas lunch than dinner. As such, you get all the staples of a typical Bajan Sunday lunch: rice and peas, macaroni pie, chicken, fish, sweet potato pie, gravy, salad, etc. But what sets Christmas apart is the large amount of food made and the staple dishes. These are great cake, jug jug, and baked ham. The drinks themselves can also be considered seasonal as you won’t really find on the dining table any other time of the year. These include ginger beer, sorrel drink, malt, Punch-a-Cream and the family’s favourite liquor. By the end of the lunch, you usually have the ‘itis’/ethnic fatigue and you want to do nothing more than to find the closest couch to sleep it off.” – Chloe. Check out her blog!
Australia
“Christmas in Australia can be a blessing and a curse. Why? Because it’s the middle of summer and it can get so hot and uncomfortable. But apart from that, it’s a great time of year for me. We usually have Christmas lunch at my house with my dads side of the family. It’s legit a three course meal. It’s great. We always have a bowl of pasta first, followed by roast chicken and roast vegetables and salad. Desert is usually panettone and some chocolates. It’s so delicious and I always fill up and then pass out on the couch. Best part of the day tbh. The for the rest of the day it’s relax until the second wave of dinner with my mums side of the family. There’s no three course meal, it’s just an all you can eat buffet and everyone helps themselves to whatever. We’re still a bit full from lunch lol. Except this time, there’s so many desserts and I go crazy. It’s amazing. Then later, we usually get someone to dress up as Santa and give out the gifts under the tree. So much fun!” – Adam. Check him out on YouTube.
Japan
“I actually learnt about this one from Twitter – KFC is actually quite common for Christmas dinner in Japan! Turkey is basically an unknown dish in Japan and so KFC Fried Chicken is what they eat. It’s so popular that people order it up to two months prior to Christmas. An estimate of 3.6 million Japanese families tuck into KFC ever Christmas which has become a nationwide tradition. Back in 1974, KFC created a party barrel to be sold on Christmas, calling it Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii (Kentucky for Christmas) and became extremely popular. It filled a void of no Christmas traditions in Japan and lives on to today.” – Jazz
Which of these Christmas dinners around the world would you like to try?
Jazz is a Disney, tea and pop culture enthusiast with a passion for blogging. Also a proud introvert.
That food from Barbados looks so good! Oh man, it gets so cold here in December; I wish I were there for Christmas, instead. Thanks for the insight into some other cultures for Christmas! 🙂
Oh my gosh, that plate from Barbados looks so good! It makes me wish I were in the sunny Caribbean instead of Korea. <3
What a beautiful yummy-looking round-up! Am here salivating and wishing it was Christmas already. Would have been interesting to see something from Africa.
Wow, Japan has really surprised me! I was expecting just sushi or something but KFC!
This is so interesting! Lovely to see the different cultures.
Imagine being in Barbados for Christmas! It sounds like they take their food pretty seriously for Christmas.
This was such an interesting read! Love hearing how different cultures celebrate Christmas around the world.
Oh how interesting! It’s so exciting to learn about other cultures. I would love to try the christmas dinner from russia!
I always wondered how Different Christmas dinners were around the world. I always surprised to lately find out how different traditions are. All of these meals look amazing from around the world, even KFC from Japan. Love me some KFC! Thank you for sharing this!
I love hearing about how different traditions are all over the world. I’m in the US and my family does the traditional US Christmas Dinner. I had to laugh reading the response from Australia about it being summer and hot because I am from South Florida so even though it’s technically winter, we have had Christmas Days that we then go swimming. This year it’s supposed to be in the low 80s as well.
This was so informational, I didn’t know all these traditions. Thanks for sharing, it’s so refreshing learning about others and what their traditions are.
Christmas is celebrated in several unique ways all across the world. In India, I never got the chance to try Christmas dinner. Will love to make visit to the places you mentioned. It will be fun.
We wont celebrate Christmas as per Hindu religion in India but we are doing it from this year for our 4 yr old to learn about Christmas. I think it is important for the kids to learn about all the religions of the world.
It’s so much fun to see what others eat for Christmas and their table displays. I would enjoy each and every one of these meals. I usually bake a ham and a turkey for Christmas.
We experiment with thanksgiving dinner (this year we had a burrito and taco bar) but traditional Christmas dinner is off limits for experimenting. The best of both worlds.
That’s so awesome all of the Christmas dinner celebrations from around the world. I do have staples for Christmas, but really I like to try doing new things all the time.
How interesting! Japan really surprised me too. I would never have guessed that.
What a fun post to see what others eat for Christmas! They are look unique and delicious and fun! I would taste test them all!