Although we still have a few weeks until Christmas, yet the onset of the winter season brings a sense of joy and happiness in me. I eagerly look forward to the festive rituals and practices unfold with Christmas caroling, candies and socks hanging from brightly lit trees, secret Santa and of course, freshly baked pies, puddings and cakes. Though the festival of Christmas belongs to the Christian community, the celebratory practices across the globe show the importance of the festival. Kids often get excited about Santa Claus visiting their house and getting some gifts for them while for the rest of us, it is a time to get together with loved ones and celebrate.
Do you know the significance of Christmas? Legend has it that Mother Mary gave birth to baby Jesus in a Bethlehem while looking for a place of shelter with Saint Joseph. Though Mother Mary was a virgin, it is believed that the conception was a miracle and gift of God where he sent his son on the earth as a sacrifice for the sins committed by people. In fact, it was declared by holy spirits that he would become a messiah or saviour of the world. Although there is no clarity on the birth date of baby Jesus, it was the then Roman emperor who announced that 25th December would be celebrated as Christmas every year. That’s how the birth of Jesus Christ became a festival that is celebrated worldwide today.
The spiritual connections of the day lie in the fact that Jesus belonged to the second of the Holy Trinity and was considered to be a messenger of God for the people. On this day, there are several traditions that are followed. A lavish Christmas feast is prepared and relished with friends and family. For instance, turkey is very intrinsic to the Christmas celebrations so is the plum cake and the pudding.
Along the same lines, each country lays their table and sets up an extravagant menu to devour on this special day. Here are some special food traditions which are followed in different parts of the world.
1. Ris á la mande From Denmark
Christmas dinner in Denmark is quite a special affair. The highlight of the meal has to be the last course which is the dessert. The Danish cold rice pudding called Ris á la mande is a delightful combination of whipped cream and vanilla. While almonds add an additional crunch to the overall dish, it is the one peeled whole almond that is the game changer. The tradition is that whoever finds it wins a gift. Apart from this, the table is laden with roasted pork, boiled potatoes, vegetables like red cabbage and more.
2. Rooster Doro Wat From Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, Christmas is celebrated on 7th January, as per the old Julian calendar. In the days preceding the festival, a 43-day long fast is observed by the believers, which is then broken on Christmas day with a special feast. The interesting bit of eating the feast is that utensils are replaced by a flat bread called injera which is used to scoop out the food. The special delicacy on the table is the rooster doro wat. A meat stew that is spruced up with lots of spices and herbs is served along with saucy hard-boiled eggs.
3. KFC Fried Chicken From Japan
Yes, this isn’t faux. Japan didn’t have any significant Christmas traditions until the 1970s when the first KFC restaurant was managed by Takeshi Okawara. The popularity of the fast food giant grew and transformed into a festive tradition once the restaurant started offering a Christmas special bucket to rejoice the day. Since then, people pre-place their orders months in advance so that they can grab their bucket without standing in queues.
4. Bûche de Noël From France
Since Christmas is a huge affair for the French, their meal on this day is also quite special. The centre piece of the table is the rich and gooey cake called Bûche de Noël. From mushroom-shaped meringues to chestnuts, several toppings are used on this chocolate log which is also known as a French Yule log. Finished off with cream, this one is a delight to the taste buds.
5. Julekake From Norway
From cakes to pies and puddings, the baked goods have a separate fan fare during Christmas. Norwegians are not far behind in smashing their festive menu with freshly baked breads like the Julekake. This is a cardamom raisin bread that is loaded with candied orange peel for the citrusy flavour. It is a part of festive feasts each year.
6. Three Kings Cake From Mexico
Mexicans, like the Ethiopians, celebrate Christmas as per their own calendar. Falling around 6th January, their El Dia De Los Reyes is a day packed with fun and food. Also known as the Twelfth night cake, this cake is special because it has a baby Jesus hidden inside it. Once someone finds it, they are declared the godparent for Jesus that year.
There are a lot more traditions followed in other countries like the nougat in Spain, a beetroot soup called borscht from Poland and the Greek ritual of having baklava on Christmas day.