Christmas 2022: 7 Curious Food Traditions Around The World

By Aanchal Mathur

From Germany’s Christmas goose to Australia’s BBQ and Italy’s feast of seven fish, here are some Christmas food traditions that are worth knowing about or trying out at home.   

Italy

‘Feast of the Seven Fishes’ is a tradition from Southern Italy where the feast consists of seven seafood dishes, symbolic of the number seven - the most repeated number in the Bible.   

Australia

It is summertime in Australia during Christmas, so for most Australians, it is usually about BBQ-ing outside during the festival than sitting around a cosy fire with a roast.  

Greece

In Greece, traditional foods like Avgolemono, a chicken and rice soup with an egg yolk and lemon base, is generally served as the first meal of the day followed by pork, stuffed cabbage. 

France

Christmas dinner in France is a very elaborate affair. The biggest treat of the night, though, is the Bûche de Noël, the French version of a Yule Log.  

Germany

Weihnachtsgans, or Christmas goose, is one of the most important Christmas traditions in Germany. 

England

The mince pie - a mix of spices like nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon, made into a big pie called ‘mincemeat’ is a traditional food in Britain besides the Christmas pudding

Finland

Unlike other regions, Christmas dinner in Finland is eaten on Christmas Eve, and includes many traditional Finnish dishes, like ham, mixed beetroot salad, liver casserole, and smoked salmon.