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Not Everyone Eats Turkey Or Roast For Christmas, Here Are 24 Holiday Meals From Around The World
One of the cool things about traveling is that you get to taste and experience various foods and dishes that you might never try at home, and Christmas is no different. In fact, it may be better!
While many associate the holiday with roast turkey or ham, a traditional Christmas menu looks vastly different depending on where you find yourself.
For example, in Italy, seafood often takes center-stage. Many Italians celebrate Christmas Eve with what's known as the 'Feast of the Seven Fishes.' As the name suggests, seven different types of fish or seafood are on offer. But if you were to head over to Japan on Christmas day, and you might be surprised to see families feasting on a KFC Christmas bucket. Yes, we're referring to the fast food chain that specializes in crumbed chicken. It’s a big Christmas tradition there…
Someone recently posted a series of videos showcasing What People Eat For Christmas Around The World, and it's finger-licking good. Bored Panda has summarized it in the listicle below, for you to feast your eyes on while you wait for your own lunch or dinner to be served. We hope you enjoy it. Bon apetit and Merry Christmas!
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#1
United Kingdom
Onan Hag All 2 weeks ago (edited)
Sprouts, roast tatties, parsnips, red cabbage. Oh, and bread sauce.
Ren Karlej 2 weeks ago
Rarely have room for mince pies on Christmas day. Tend to be something I'd eat leading up to, or after, Christmas!
Crystalwitch60 2 weeks ago (edited)
It’s still a Christmas tradition lol , n not all of us are pigs 😂😂joking btw , have a merry Christmas I’m making the mince pies today , actually making the pasty to lol (cos tescos was all outta frozen , home cook I am ,baker I am not 😂
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Ren Karlej 2 weeks ago
A close up of some less typical looking stuffing... that was my guess!
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Norfolk and good 2 weeks ago
Don't forget the pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings. A bit of Christmas trivia: Charles Dickens helped popularise turkey for Christmas dinner in the UK when Scrooge sent the Cratchits a turkey in A Christmas Carol. Turkey was very expensive back then and was only really eaten by the upper classes. Hence Scrooge sending the Cratchits a turkey was meant to show Scrooge's wealth and newfound generosity.
KatWitch57 2 weeks ago
We forget that; bread sauce, stuffing, sausages (as in pigs in blankets), Yorkshire puddings, and other flour-based products were fillers, designed to make the meat go as far as possible. But they are so yummy.
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Philippa Davies 2 weeks ago
Yep, this is pretty much what we had today- I’m in Melbourne- except it was chicken and lamb instead of turkey
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An estimated 46 million turkeys are sacrifice their lives to Americans each year - and that's just for Thanksgiving. Add in Christmas, Easter, other lunches and dinners, and the figure rises to around 270 million turkeys annually in the United States.
But turkey wasn't always the GOAT of Christmas in America and Britain.
"The turkey was introduced to the U.K. from the Americas in the 1500s and gradually became a festive favourite in households over the following centuries," reveals the Food Unfolded blog. "At first, turkey was expensive, like all rare foods. Many families chose more affordable options such as goose and chicken. But as turkeys became cheaper, it soon became the most popular Christmas dish in the U.K."
And turkey still isn't the GOAT in many parts of the world...
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#2
Australia
Dilly Millandry 2 weeks ago
Where's the gravy to go with that trifle, eh? 😉😋 (See Ireland if you're confused!!!).
Crystalwitch60 2 weeks ago
Nooo lol it’s USA as eats gravy with everything 😂😂😂
Load More Replies... Gianna B D 2 weeks ago
I'm surprised New Zealand hasn't shown up yet to fight over the pavlova.
Hippopotamuses 2 weeks ago
Oh, I'm here. Watching, and waiting to pounce.
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Huddo's sister 2 weeks ago
Never had turkey or ham at my place in Australia. Roast chicken &/or lamb, or bbq kangaroo steaks, kebabs, chicken, and eggplant & zucchini (I don't eat bbq meat myself).
#3
Poland
Norfolk and good 2 weeks ago
Polish Pandas: Do you really keep a live fish in your bathtub for Christmas dinner?
Anna Kraszewska 2 weeks ago
Not anymore. Now that we are doing very well economically we buy ready-made fillets. But 20–30 years ago, when our economy was more Eastern European, it really was like that.
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In many parts of Europe, fish takes centre-stage on Christmas eve. It's a tradition that dates back ages.
During the Middle Ages, Catholics fasted ahead of Christmas and were not allowed to eat meat. They were, however, allowed fish. "Families would prepare roast carp, sometimes keeping the fish alive in a bathtub for a few days before cooking it," reports Food Unfolded. "This tradition still survives in some areas today."
Apparently, carp was thought to bring good luck, and some people even kept the fish scales in their wallets until the following Christmas Eve. According to the food site, families now celebrate with rich feasts featuring poultry and pork on Christmas Day, but fish on Christmas Eve is a tradition that's going nowhere anytime soon.
#4
Germany
Kira Okah 2 weeks ago
I have an insatiable love of lebkuchen, and NOWHERE here sells it! Rrrrr, I want some now.
Geobugi🇰🇷🇰🇭 2 weeks ago
Where are you? Some german companies ship worldwide, i get mine from people in saxony, they are pretty quick too. It is sadly quite expensive, certainly this year with chocolate prices through the roof
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#5
Greece
#6
Spain
Regardless of what they're eating, many families around the world prepare big feasts on Christmas Day, and it's not just because they're celebrating. The tradition of feasting has its roots set in historic times.
As we mentioned earlier, it was common for Christians to fast or avoid certain foods such as meat or eggs for up to 40 days before Christmas. This was for spiritual reasons and served as a way to practice self-control and make the celebration more meaningful.
#7
Mexico
Mike F 2 weeks ago
If you're ever in Austin Texas attrip to Rosie's Tamale House is worth a stop. It's been around a very long time, I was there in around 1982, and they're still cranking them out. Absolutely delicious!
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Hungary
Kelly H. Wilder 2 weeks ago
Merry Christmas, fellow Pandas!!! 🎄 I am most envious of those cabbage rolls. I can never get mine right and no one around here makes or sells them. They are my absolute favorite food, and I am jealous of those with daily access to them.
#9
France
Ren Karlej 2 weeks ago
Not touching Foie gras unless I can be sure it's been made via a non-force fed method.
amy lee 2 weeks ago
Very unlikely. The fat in the liver only forms like that when the poor animal is seriously overweight through forced feeding.
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Emilu 2 weeks ago
... ohh. I didn't know what it was, and just Googled it. No, do not want foie gras.
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KatWitch57 2 weeks ago
Every goose, that is raised for the table, has a liver. Force-fed foie gras is very rare these days. Foie gras is more usually made by adding butter or cream at the cooking stage. And it is very rich and wonderful, without the cruelty.
Ren Karlej 2 weeks ago
Researching this, the internet doesn't agree with you: In 2025, force-feeding (gavage) remains the primary production method for foie gras, accounting for the vast majority of global output. Virtually all commercially available foie gras is produced using force-feeding. Geese, specifically, account for a very small percentage of the total amount produced, typically less than 5-10% globally, with the vast majority coming from ducks. Over 90% of foie gras is now made from ducks, primarily the Mulard duck. This shift occurred because ducks were found to be easier to force-feed than geese when the industry became more industrialised. While some "ethical" or "gavage-free" alternatives exist (often labeled as "natural fatty liver" or "faux gras"), these products constitute a very small niche market.
Load More Replies... Crystalwitch60 2 weeks ago
Ok I wanna go France for an Xmas dinner non nom ,I LOVE oysters and everything else on those pics , I don’t speak French 😂learnt it in school but I left there 45 yrs ago can’t remember a word 😂but it looks bloody gorgeous ❤️
Val 2 weeks ago
Foie gras is so delicious. I know, the force feeding thing. It's the same as making an animal fat. I was vegan for four years, I don't hate animals.
nottheactualphoto 2 weeks ago
Exactly correct. It's analogous to fattening up a steer, or any other animal. See my link to the Serious Eats article.
Load More Replies... nottheactualphoto 2 weeks ago (edited)
For those arguing that foie gras is unethical, I'd like to point out the obvious fact that human anatomy is quite different to that of ducks and geese. The bottom line - as far as I can tell! - is that in the US, at least, ducks raised for foie gras are farmed in a humane manner. I'll reply with a link to an article on the topic, because BP. The author, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, is a highly respected chef and writer, and very knowledgeable. If you can spare a few minutes to read it, it will be time well spent. N.B., this is not an AI summary or a hit from a "20 second google." It's written by an actual human who knows his stuff.
Emilu 2 weeks ago (edited)
Hey, no casting nasturtiums on my 20 second Google! 😂 (And yes, I know the actual phrase but my family and I use 'casting nasturtiums' instead because the mental imagery is amusing.) Off to read your link now, though. Edit: Okay, just read it. Interesting article, and I do agree with the overall premise of "if you eat any other farmed animal foie gras should be okay". The information about ducks is not entirely correct, however. Yes, a bird's crop is designed to swell, but it can overfill and that can cause serious health issues for the bird. Ducks also breathe through their nares like other birds, not through their tongues. I still won't be going out to eat foie gras any time soon, but I accept this is a 'me' issue.
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"Traditionally, Christmas Eve was the ‘vigil of Christmas’, which meant the last day of fasting," notes the site. And the following day marked the birth of Jesus and the big festive feast. "In some ways, the big Christmas dinner feast after a long period of fasting or eating more modestly made sense," it adds.
The first recorded Christmas celebration was December 25th in 336 CE, a date chosen by early Christian leaders to celebrate the occasion.
#10
Sweden
#11
Ireland
Dilly Millandry 2 weeks ago (edited)
Yorkshire puddings and gravy with trifle? Terrible thing to do to trifle! 🤣🤣🤣
Ren Karlej 2 weeks ago
Irish Christmas, where's the Irish Christmas Pudding (with Guinness of course) and spiced beef is a popular alternative to Turkey. Trifle may well appear (minus the gravy). Trifle is pretty common in England too tbh.
Foxglove🇮🇪 2 weeks ago
Not us - we'll be having roast lamb, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, broccoli, sweetcorn and gravy. Christmas pudding and cream.
#12
Brazil
#13
Canada
Glenn Phillips 2 weeks ago
Um NO! Canuck here. Roast turkey, potatoes, turnips, stuffing, pie, and maybe more. Butter tarts are to be enjoyed all year round. Yes to the tourteire (mainly in Quebec)
zenharmony 2 weeks ago
Butter tarts are *amazing!* Those ones don't look full enough or cooked long enough, but you can also add raisins, walnuts or pecans to change them up.
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Lisa Galway 2 weeks ago
Who is eating this in Canada? That's not what I have for a holiday meal
Wendy 2 weeks ago
I'm Canadian too and would never have any of that except for the mashies ...
Load More Replies... zenharmony 2 weeks ago
I'm Canadian, and we usually have turkey/ham for Christmas dinner. I've only ever had tourtière once (it's a French-Canadian dish) and it's so flavourful, I've dreamed about having it again since.
#14
Italy
alchemilla vulgaris 2 weeks ago
This depends VERY much on which region you are from. Never had timballo in my life, christmas or not. Yes I know what it is, just never saw it in real life. And despite describing arrosto di vitello/tacchino (roast beef or turkey), there is no equivalent in the photo...
Fransanchez 2 weeks ago
thanks, I thought I was misreading. Also, numbers do not correspond to pictures
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#15
Philippines
#16
Portugal
#17
Austria
Sebastian Scholler 2 weeks ago
As an Austrian I never heard of a dish called black sausage soup. During my childhood, our traditional food was turkey. Bratwurst and Sauerkraut is very popular, but not during Christmas.
Viktoria Zellner 2 weeks ago
No, this is´nt our traditional christmas-dish!!! In Vienna we eat "gebackenen Karpfen mit Erdäpfelsalat" (breaded carp with potato salad). Das mit den Keksen stimmt.
Geobugi🇰🇷🇰🇭 2 weeks ago
Karpfen is the fish not the cake, yes? I allways confuse them. For the fish i have to say that was the most file fish i ever ate. How can you people eat this? It tastes like some rotten fish with a touch of swamp 🤢
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#18
Romania
Kelly H. Wilder 2 weeks ago
From all these pictures I am learning that my stomach is definitely Eastern European.
#19
Russia
KatWitch57 2 weeks ago
Somehow I feel disinclined to even contemplate Russian food at the moment.
Bubblebee 2 weeks ago
Rightly so. Let's not promote anything Russian until the mūrders and other atrocities stop.
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#20
Denmark
Pernille 2 weeks ago
In my family we eat goose instead of duck, and in my humb and opinion it is the best of all birds. Duck is good too, but for a large family goose is bigger, and I have to admit that I find turkey bland and boring even with a good stuffing.
Auntriarch 2 weeks ago
We have just about anything but not turkey. If that's all the meat there was, we'd have cheese soufflé
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Data1001 2 weeks ago
Aebleskivers are delicious. My mother (of a Norwegian background) got into making those one year when I was a kid, and they were an instant hit.
Emilu 2 weeks ago
They're super cute. ... I just Googled them and they also sound delicious.
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#21
Ethiopia
Kelly H. Wilder 2 weeks ago (edited)
Ethiopian cuisine, as is Ethiopian culture, is fabulous! A home-cooked Ethiopian meal is one of my favorite memories. I mentioned earlier that my stomach is Eastern European, but my heart belongs to Ethiopia. I 💙 🇪🇹
#22
Barbados
#23
Belgium
Keith Handly (Ike) 2 weeks ago
I see cannibals munchin' a missionary luncheon/ The years may have flown but the memory stays
Load More Replies... KatWitch57 2 weeks ago
Is it me, or has the Panda-bot ceased to have any real supervision now. It's like there are just selected words at random?
Purple light 2 weeks ago (edited)
Gourmets is an activity in which a group of people at the table in small pans or on a grill, baking sheet or similar, always cook their own dish, using different ingredients that are on the table.
Julie S 2 weeks ago
Thank you I thought they are just chocolate buttons and and they aren't very gourmet.
Load More Replies... #24
United States
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 2 weeks ago
Eggnog is a must, my family always makes a family doughnut recipe and some kind of roast ungulate. And mashed parsnips!
Data1001 2 weeks ago
It's more traditionally served at Thanksgiving, but I think our family occasionally had it for a Christmas meal, as well.
Load More Replies... Emilu 2 weeks ago
I've always wanted to try roasted and/or glazed ham, but it's "not a thing" in my family and I suck at cooking. Sniff.
KatWitch57 2 weeks ago
You've got to try this some day, it's a bit time consuming and fiddly first time around but well worth learning. However, Xmas is not that day! Do it for a special some weekend.
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Andi Cason 1 week ago (edited)
I know some families in america do ham or turkey for Christmas -- but in my family it's always been turkey for Thanksgiving, beef roast for Christmas, ham for new years. We usually do prime rib or chateaubriand or beef wellington when we can afford it, eye of round or brisket if we cant. I think that gets changed up in families that dont enjoy some of those. Being texan we also do tamales for Christmas. As for sides - potatoes are definitely in the menu but mash is more thanksgiving. We did baby hassleback potatoes. And brussel sprouts. While pumpkin is a must at thanksgiving we choose apple pie or pecan at christnas. I like eggnog. But it seems like only half the ppl i know drink it. I've been making oatnog lattees since thanksgiving!@
Nancy Austin 2 weeks ago
By this time, I have traded pumpkin pie for pecan and no mashed potatoes, but roasted brussel sprouts or collards
Zach Taylor 2 weeks ago
Not around here. No eggnog. Roasted potatoes, not mashed. Lamb shanks instead of ham.sweet potato pie, not pumpkin.
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What do you think ?
Dilly Millandry 2 weeks ago
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and all Pandas. Hope you have a lovely day.
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Gingersnap In Iowa 2 weeks ago
Well I'll be making crackers and ginger ale. My son has the stomach flu. Happy Holidays to all my fellow Pandas!
Paul C. 2 weeks ago
Happy Christmas to you in Iowa from Lancashire UK.......... Is this heaven? No it's Iowa.
Load More Replies... Dilly Millandry 2 weeks ago
Sorry, Ireland, not persuaded to try gravy on my trifle at all! (What's the betting BP correct this so my comment makes no sense whatsoever now???) Some of these dishes look amazing. Barbados Great Cake is one I'm going to bake at some point... love the flavour of rum! Enjoy your festive foods everyone and have a merry Christmas!!!
Boo 2 weeks ago (edited)
This year we are foregoing the usual fare and ordering a takeaway. It's just the 3 of us, and my god! the amount of freedom I feel is unreal! Still making the ham rolls (by popular request lol) and individual lemon cheesecakes, but I don't have to spend hours in the kitchen....this may become a tradition.
Hugo 2 weeks ago
We could have done with some translations/explanations. Not all of us are fluent in multiple languages.
Julie S 2 weeks ago
Yes just putting the name of the dish doesn't help if you don't speak the language.
Load More Replies... Dilly Millandry 2 weeks ago
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and all Pandas. Hope you have a lovely day.
Load More Replies... Gingersnap In Iowa 2 weeks ago
Well I'll be making crackers and ginger ale. My son has the stomach flu. Happy Holidays to all my fellow Pandas!
Paul C. 2 weeks ago
Happy Christmas to you in Iowa from Lancashire UK.......... Is this heaven? No it's Iowa.
Load More Replies... Dilly Millandry 2 weeks ago
Sorry, Ireland, not persuaded to try gravy on my trifle at all! (What's the betting BP correct this so my comment makes no sense whatsoever now???) Some of these dishes look amazing. Barbados Great Cake is one I'm going to bake at some point... love the flavour of rum! Enjoy your festive foods everyone and have a merry Christmas!!!
Boo 2 weeks ago (edited)
This year we are foregoing the usual fare and ordering a takeaway. It's just the 3 of us, and my god! the amount of freedom I feel is unreal! Still making the ham rolls (by popular request lol) and individual lemon cheesecakes, but I don't have to spend hours in the kitchen....this may become a tradition.
Hugo 2 weeks ago
We could have done with some translations/explanations. Not all of us are fluent in multiple languages.
Julie S 2 weeks ago
Yes just putting the name of the dish doesn't help if you don't speak the language.
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