Christmas, more than any other time of year, is an opportunity to eat traditional dishes often overlooked during the rest of the year. An example? Panettone, although there have been some recent attempts to commercialize it in the summer months. Christmas is the celebration gastronomically most important and not only for us Italians, but also for many people in Europe and overseas. As it happens in our homes, elsewhere too there is a large number of dishes inspired by the occasion, now so famous as to be known outside of native borders.
ENGLAND
In England, for example, you eat the Christmas Pudding, a recipe from ancient traditions. In this sweet are hidden, by tradition, small coins. It is a sweet with a rustic plot that is usually served with rum or brandy butter. Curious are the superstitions related to this dessert. An example: the Christmas pudding contains 13 ingredients (such as Jesus and his disciples) and during preparation each family member must be present to turn the dough, strictly counterclockwise, from east to west (to honor the arrival of the three Kings). Inside the compound are inserted coins, rings and thimbles, objects that will make the fortune of those who find them.
SPAIN
In Spain, the traditional Christmas dishes include a special and delicious soup made of meat and vegetables, the escudella y carn d’olla, and roast turkey with glazed fruit. Among the desserts, indispensable nougat and polvorones, a sweet crumbly made with coconut
FRANCE
The Christmas food in France is however extremely sophisticated: many fish dishes, escargots, oysters – perfect in the cold months – and salmon. Then salads, desserts and fruit pies, great wines and Vin Brulé, the popular hot drink containing wine, sugar and spices. Those who prefer meat chooses roast chicken, goose or turkey served with chestnuts. The typical dessert of these festivities is the Buche de Noel. Very popular is also the Galette des Rois, the cake of kings: a sweet puff pastry stuffed with almond cream that hides inside a colored plaster figurine. Who find it, will have the pleasure of being King or Queen of the house for a day, with all that the role involves.
FINLAND
In Finland, which basically is the land of Santa Claus, these festivals are deeply felt, even from the gastronomic point of view. Throughout the period prior to December 25, in the Finnish homes people do massive production of sweets of all kinds. The most famous are pastries with Christmas star shape garnish with jam and cookies of various shapes called piparkakku. The dinner is served in the late afternoon (starting at 17, usually) and includes, by tradition: cooked ham, cod, liver pate. During the evening meal Christmas the typical drink is Glögg, a kind of Vin Brulé prepared with almonds, raisins and cinnamon. The beer is homemade for the occasion.
ITALY
According to tradition, the Christmas Eve dinner should not contain meat. A popular dish, especially in the South, is the eel, while in some areas there is a widespread tradition of the “seven fish dishes“, tradition also transferred to the United States by Italian immigrants.
Typical Italian Christmas cake is Panettone, a cake with raisins and candied fruit native of Milan, but spread throughout the whole Italian territory. Another typical Italian Christmas cake is Pandoro, an original dessert of Verona, created in 1884 by Domenico Melegatti. The name of this cake derives from “pan de oro” (gold bread), in memory of a cake with conical shape, which at the time of the Serenissima Republic (Venezia) was covered with pure gold leaf
CROATIA
Christmas is an important holiday also in Croatia. Here the dinner is really rich: typical dishes include pancakes with brandy and lemon, salad of grains (cereal and legumes), turkey meat and chicken served with cabbage rolls
SWEDEN
In Sweden it is prepared a rich and magnificent banquet, consisting of dishes based on fish, cooked ham, rice pudding and ham meatballs. Here, too, the traditional drink is the Glögg, while the Christmas cake par excellence are the gingerbread cookies with cinnamon.
UNITED STATES
In America, the Christmas dinner is synonymous with stuffed turkey, topped with cranberry sauce and vegetables. For dessert we find the Christmas Pudding, the Brownies, and an assortment of Mince Pies, pies of short pastry flavored with dried fruit. According to the Americans they are the favorite dessert of Santa Claus. The night before, before going to sleep, American children leave one or two cakes on the fire board to thank Santa and a carrot for the reindeer. We are moving more and more towards a broader culture, where traditions intertwine and influence one each other. If you had to choose a traditional Christmas dish of the other, which would you choose?
