Around the world, Christmas and food are as varied as an assortment of gifts under the tree. While we Americans and Brits feed Santa Claus ( a.k.a. Sinterklaas, Pére Noel, Father Christmas, Julemanden, Weihnachtsmann and St. Nicholas ) and roast yet another turkey, the French cook goose, the Belgians eat cookies resembling the Baby Jesus and the Dutch chow down on oliebollen ( 'oil balls,' deep-fried flour and raisin pastries ) .
Neither Austrians nor Norwegians have a Santa Claus to feed. Maybe they should: Austrians eat braised or breaded fried carp for Christmas, and in Norway they dine on lutefisk ( fish soaked in lye, the recipe for which begins 'Saw the dried fish …' ) .
By any measure ( even Turkey Day ) , Christmas is one of the more food-filled of feast days in the Christian world. It's a trip to see how different cultures stuff more than their stockings on Dec. 25. Here's a 'world-wind' tour, with a 'Merry Christmas' to you in 17 languages.
Austria: Frohe Weinachten! In addition to that yummy carp, Austrians mark Christmas with sweet cheese crépes baked in a custard and sauced with apricot caramel.
Belgium: Joyeux Noel! ( French ) Vrolijke Kerstmis! ( Flemish ) Pine trees are decorated with speculoos, ginger bread-like cookies spiced with cinnamon, ginger and clove and decorated in white and red icings, which the thrifty Belgians also nibble as snacks. Stuffed turkey is a common dinner, served with fried potato croquettes and finished with a bûche de Noël ( yule log cake ) .
Denmark: Glaedelig Jul! Dinner on Christmas Eve is roast pork or duck with browned potatoes. Danish rice pudding comes for dessert, with a whole almond in one portion of it. The person who finds the almond gets an extra gift. England: Merry Christmas! Nadoligcq Llawn! ( Welsh ) English Christmas is nearly identical to American Christmas, except for plum pudding, which has nothing to do with plums, but from the way that raisins and currants are 'plumped' by warm brandy before the baking of the cake. Another big difference from the U.S.: They have a queen who delivers an avidly watched Christmas Day address. ( We should be so lucky. )
Finland: Hauskaa Joulua! Finns eat Christmas casseroles containing noodles, rutabagas, carrot and potatoes, served with baked ham or roast turkey.
France: Joyeux Noel! By and large, the French roast goose rather than turkey ( except in Burgundy where turkey is popular ) and finish Christmas dinner with a bûche de Noël, or a cake shaped like a yule log. In ancient times, yule logs were burned throughout the night of Dec. 24-25. Other regional Christmas delights include oysters in Paris; buckwheat cakes and créme fraiche in Brittany; and roast chestnuts in the Rhone.
Germany Frohliche Weinachten! More carp. But also stöllen, a pastry dense, fruit-filled and aromatic with spice, and originally designed—with its layers of filigreed dough—dough to resemble the Christ child in swaddling clothes. By legend, on Christmas Eve in Germany, the rivers turn to wine; animals speak with each other; trees blossom with fruit; and mountains open to reveal precious gems. Perhaps this is because much mulled wine has gone down.
Greece: Kala Christougena! More turkey, but stuffed with spiced nuts and raisins and served with triangular-shaped, spinach stuffed, phyllo pastry pies. Actually, New Year's Day is more important to Greeks than Christmas Day, though on Jan. 1, interestingly, a 'Christmas cake' is served.
Holland: Zalig Kestfeest! The oliebollen accompany roast hare or rabbit, braised cabbage or chard and potatoes. The Dutch beat all other countries for a head start on Christmas: in mid-November, St. Nicholas arrives from Spain with his assistant, Black Peter. Until Dec. 5, Dutch children leave an empty wooden shoe by the hearth, in which a carrot or some hay has been placed for St. Nick's donkey. In the morning, a small gift or some candy takes their place.
Ireland: Nollaig Shona dhuit! ( Gaelic ) Breakfast on Christmas Day is the big feed in Ireland: eggs, bacon, grilled tomatoes, potatoes, sausage links ( blood sausage especially ) , fried bread and sautéed mushrooms, washed down with tea and even beer.
Italy: Buon Natale! The week between Christmas and New Year's is cottechino week, given over to this many-spiced, garlicky, fresh pork sausage, a key component to bollito misto ( mixed boiled meats ) . But Christmas is best marked by panettone, the sweet, cylindrical yeast bread full of raisins, pine nuts, candied fruits ( especially citron ) and anise. Norway: Gledelig Jul! Lutefisk, of course, but also porridge and pork. Poland: Boze Narodzenie! Christmas dinner is unique in Poland. The table is set with one empty seat, as tradition dictates, for anyone, friend or stranger, who might knock on the door. And the dinner is in 12 courses—not including meat. Poppy seeds and honey are part of the menu as symbols of prosperity and peace.
Portugal: Boas Festas! Like the Norwegians, the Portuguese eat dried cod soaked ( in this case ) with milk, served with boiled potatoes. Also, slices of bread soaked in eggs and wine and fried ( a sort of French toast ) and the 'bolo rei,' a circular cake coated with glazed fruit, nuts and sugar icing.
Spain: Feliz Navidad! The Spanish eat Christmas dinner right after midnight. Its highlight, if you are well off, is turkey stuffed with truffles—and roast sea bass with lemons, olive oil and bread crumbs, if you are not. But all Spaniards eat sweets on Christmas, especially nougat, containing the national nut, the almond.
Sweden: God Jul! More important than either Dec. 24 or 25 in Sweden is today, Dec. 13. It is St. Lucia Day, when The Queen of Light, chosen from each Swedish family, club, school or association, dresses in a long, white gown with a crown of candles in her hair and delivers gingerbread cookies and coffee. St. Lucia cakes mimic the crown and candles. On Christmas Eve, Swedes eat herring, ham and lentils.
Switzerland: Frohlich Weihnact! ( for German-speaking Swiss ) or Joyeux Noel! ( for French-speaking Swiss ) . Because Switzerland is so diverse and made up of three dominant cultures ( French, Italian and German ) , the Swiss celebrate Christmas with foods from those several cultures. But fish, especially Genevan char, is popular too.
