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Tradition served on Christmas table

Olga de MoellerThe West Australian
Suckling pig.
Camera IconSuckling pig. Credit: Bill Hatto

PHILIPPINES

Christmas is huge in the Philippines and Christmas dinner is a feast families tuck into after a marathon mass. On the table are spit-roasted suckling pig, a leg of ham, a ball of cheese, spring rolls and fruit salad.

FRANCE

While we tuck into Christmas pud, the French enjoy la buche de noel, which represents the yule log traditionally carried into homes and burned on Christmas Eve. It’s a delicious sponge roll made with chocolate butter cream and chocolate frosting.

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SWEDEN

Pickled herring.
Camera IconPickled herring. Credit: Iain Gillespie

Christmas is a smorgasbord in Sweden, with ham, pork sausage, pickled herring, pate, meat balls, rye bread and potatoes. Saffron buns with raisins shaped into an S that looks like a cat’s tail (hence the name, “Lussekatter”, which means Lucia’s cats) are a highlight.

JAPAN

Japan does not celebrate Christmas, but fast-food staple KFC is so popular during the festive season that it’s become a tradition. People order it months in advance.

MEXICO

Salted cod, called bacalao in Spanish, is a Christmas staple in Mexico. It’s made with rehydrated fish cooked in a stew with tomato, chillies, onions, potatoes and olives.

ENGLAND

Christmas pudding.
Camera IconChristmas pudding. Credit: Rob Duncan

Christmas pudding, or plum pudding, is as English as stuffed turkey and roast veg. It’s made with spices and dried fruits, though rarely plums, and is popular in Ireland, Australia and some parts of the US.

COSTA RICA

Every Cost Rican family has a secret recipe for tamales, a Christmas staple made with stuffed corn dough wrapped in a banana leaf or corn husk, then steamed. There are sweet and savoury varieties and stuffing can include shredded pork, beef or chicken with garlic, onion, potatoes or maybe raisins.

UKRAINE

Sweetened boiled wheat or barley with ground poppy seeds, honey and sometimes walnuts and dried fruit called kutya is a legendary Ukrainian dish that’s also served in other countries, including Russia, Poland, Belarus and Bulgaria, where it’s called kolivo. It’s customary to have at least a spoonful of kutya before eating Christmas Eve supper.

ITALY

Panettone.
Camera IconPanettone. Credit: Michael O'Brien

It wouldn’t be Christmas in Italy without panettone, the most popular festive sweet treat that originated in Milan. It’s their version of fruit cake made with yeasted dough, dried fruit, chocolate and nuts.

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