In the West, the traditional Christmas dinner consists of appetizers, soup, appetizers, main courses, Dim sum and drinks. The essential foods on this day include Christmas turkey, smoked ham, Christmas salmon, Christmas pudding, etc.
- Roasted Turkey
In the eyes of Westerners, without grilled turkey, it’s not even a Christmas dinner. Some Westerners are also used to putting a whole Roasted sucking pig or Roasted baby pig on the table of the Christmas dinner. People in Britain, America and other countries also like to put an apple in the pig’s beak. This habit may have originated from some larger families, as only larger families can possibly eat a pig. Later, some ostentatious people followed suit when treating Christmas guests. After dinner, desserts usually include plums, pudding, and minced meat pies – British and American people believe that after eating these foods, they will have good luck and good luck. In the United States, there is also a special food in the Christmas dinner – roasted corn Congee, with a layer of cream on it and some fruit on it. It is sweet and delicious, and has a unique taste.
- Christmas Salmon
The traditional Christmas feast was initially popular with grilled pigs and ham, as in Catholic countries, pigs symbolized ‘prosperity’. Whether it was early roasted pigs and ham, or later turkeys and salmon, meat was the main ingredient. Because during the period of relying on nature for food, “hunger” is a common occurrence, and it is always a happy thing to enjoy a “big meat” dinner at the end of the year.
Smoked ham should be considered the most traditional main dish in a Christmas feast. Not only is it convenient to eat, but it can also meet the needs of many holiday diners, and even if there are leftovers, they are not afraid. Smoked roasted ham often has a sweet sauce coated on the surface, such as honey or cherry pomegranate sauce. These sweet sauces can be used to make a perfect combination with red wine for smoked ham consumption, so it is necessary to choose red wine with a slightly stronger fruit flavor and richer taste to match the sweet and greasy taste on the outer layer of smoked ham.
Salmon is a must-have dish on the Christmas table, with a wide variety. It is made from raw salmon slices soaked in sugar and salt for 3 days, supplemented by lemon juice and mustard, and has a delicious taste. Smoked salmon and boiled salmon also have unique flavors.
- Smoked ham
Smoked ham should be considered the most traditional main dish in a Christmas feast. Not only is it convenient to eat, but it can also meet the needs of many holiday diners, and even if there are leftovers, they are not afraid. Smoked roasted ham often has a sweet sauce coated on the surface, such as honey or cherry pomegranate sauce.
These sweet sauces can be used to make a perfect combination with red wine for smoked ham consumption, so it is necessary to choose red wine with a slightly stronger fruit flavor and richer taste to match the sweet and greasy taste on the outer layer of smoked ham.
- Red wine
Christmas red wine is one of the hot drinks that Germans must drink on Christmas Day. It is a heated red wine. However, in addition to the usual ingredients of red wine, manufacturers also introduce different flavors, such as adding cinnamon, honey, lemon, and even fruit spirits, to make the taste more varied. Many Germans also drink a hot Christmas red wine immediately after midnight mass on Christmas Eve to warm up, which is a very unique beverage.
The relationship between wine and Christianity can be described as extremely profound. In the Gospel of John, the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine at his wedding in Canaan is recorded. At the Last Supper, Jesus also entertained his disciples with wine and said, ‘Bread is my flesh, wine is my blood.’ Therefore, red wine is also known as’ holy blood ‘.
Indeed, wine is an indispensable accompaniment to Western cuisine, and its presence is indispensable in daily diet, let alone Christmas feast. Wine not only has a bright red color like ruby, adding a touch of romance to the dining table, but also contains many vitamins. It can both warm the stomach and help the skin replenish vitamins, promoting blood circulation, making it perfect for pairing with Christmas meals.
- Christmas cake
Cake is one of the daily foods, and the cake used for Christmas is Christmas cake. The Christmas cake produced in Germany is the most famous. Chocolate flavor is one of the main flavors of Christmas cakes, and at this moment, almost every family will make cakes mainly made of chocolate.
People often make Christmas cakes novel and beautiful. Pour the words “Merry Christmas” with cream or jam on it, and insert special Christmas candles around it. The candle is small in shape, only three or four inches long, but the materials are exquisite, colorful, and some are even made into spiral shapes. After igniting, the host will turn off the cake first, and then everyone will share the cake. Sometimes people even put three beans in the cake to represent the three Eastern sages in the Bible story. Whoever eats the beans becomes the “Three Kings”, which is very interesting.
- Christmas pudding
Christmas pudding is a seasonal food eaten at Christmas. Today’s Christmas pudding is derived from the traditional Christmas food, milk porridge and dried fruit pudding. Therefore, although the ingredients of Christmas pudding are not plum, it is also called dried fruit pudding, becoming a new member of the Christmas cuisine. Traditionally, when Christmas arrives, each family member must work together to make a Christmas pudding, symbolizing unity and harmony. While stirring the dough, everyone silently makes a wish and eventually hides a coin in the dough.
In Denmark, when Christmas dinner begins, people must first eat an almond pudding before they can start eating anything else. If anyone can eat the only complete almond, they will be the luckiest person next year. Usually, adults will put this almond in the youngest child’s bowl to make them happy.
- Gingerbread
The most famous traditional Christmas food in Germany is gingerbread. There are two English versions of gingerbread: Gingersnap, which literally means ginger and thin and crispy cakes; And another saying comes from German, called Lebkuchen. In short, gingerbread is a small pastry eaten at Christmas, usually made with honey, brown sugar, almonds, preserved fruit peels, and spices.
Gingerbread is an ancient food that can be seen as early as the Roman Empire. But why is Christmas related to Gingerbread House? Legend has it that during the Crusades, “ginger” was an expensive imported spice, so it was only used during important holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Adding ginger to cookies during production not only adds flavor, but also has the function of dispelling cold. Over time, gingerbread became an indispensable little Dim sum in Christmas.
Although the hometown of gingerbread is in Germany, Europeans are also accustomed to eating gingerbread during Christmas. Finns will enjoy gingerbread while drinking glogi wine, which is a type of wine mixed with almonds and raisins, with a spicy and fragrant taste. Dutch people even hide Christmas gifts in pudding or lamb intestines! As for the Poles, they are divided into two groups. One group likes to eat a big meal on Christmas Eve, while the other group fastes and prays all day!
