While some cultures center their big meal on Christmas Day, for others it’s Christmas Eve.
But no matter what the date, the sentiment is the same.
In celebration of the holiday season, we’ve gathered recipes from 25 different countries that are commonly eaten.
Flæskesteg from Denmark. (Photo:johanmede,CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
This particular meal is popular both for Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners.
In this tradition, small meats and vegetables are cooked on a tabletop hotplate by the whole family.
In central Mexico,romeritosare a common feature on the table.
Guatemala
Tamales are a large part of the traditional Guatemalan Christmas.
In the south, it’s typical to also have eel on the menu.
Slovakia
A Slovakian Christmas starts with a big meal on December 24 and continues through Christmas Day.
The fried chicken chain restaurant has almost become synonymous with the holiday.
Venezuela
In Venezuela,hallacasare the go-to dish during the Christmas season.
Finland
Lanttulaatikko, or rutabaga casserole, is a staple of the Finnish Christmas table.
Photo: Mevystark viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 4.0)
Once baked in the oven, it becomes a favorite side dish to accompany ham or fish.
From Brussel sprouts to bacon-wrapped sausage and roast carrots, everything is topped with savory gravy.
It becomes a delicious centerpiece on Christmas Day.
Yes, we stay up all Christmas Eve so we can feast come midnight.
The star of the table is the Fiesta ham served with rice and Pinoy-style spaghetti.
Greenland
Christmas dinner in Greenland features meat delicacies that are highly unique to the area.
This dish used to be made only for the holiday and remains a key component of the meal.
They prepare a variety of meats, but grilled prawns is usually a favorite.
This ceremonial dish symbolizes unity.
It is a cold rice pudding typically served with hot or cold cherry sauce.
Risalamande has been a popular staple in Denmark since the late 19th century.
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