Make Culture Your Holiday Tradition!

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    Though now is a time where we celebrate our own cultures, the holidays are an important part of culture everywhere! Acknowledging different cultures can expand our world of food in ways we didn't even know existed! It can allow us to be able to create new dishes, experience different flavors, and allow us to even learn something new about that specific culture. 

    Typically during the holidays, we tend to stick to our ways of food due to the culture and tradition of our westernized society. Not to say in other places these attributes to the season aren't celebrated, but the difference is what we may be lacking to be able to maximize our experience during the holidays. Stuffing, gingerbread, mashed potatoes, ham and even more are all things that you would recognise as our “culturally relevant” foods during Christmas time. Oftentimes we don't think of what food might be similar or different that is eaten in other places around the world. It is surprising to see how one thing that people do in a different culture can vary or be similar to a dish that we tend to experience here and have it be just as good or even better!  Experiencing cultural diversity in respect to food is a great way to expand your knowledge about different meals and the foods they are made from. This not only allows us to try new things but to also be more accepting and involved in culture that may not be our own. 


Here are some non-traditional food items that other cultures may include into their Christmas cuisine!


Italian: Italy has a variety of sea food dishes during the Christmas season. The most popular one would be the feast of seven fishes and usually occurs on Christmas eve. This dish consists of a variety of different fish including shellfish and squid. If you enjoy seafood this is a must try during the holidays! 

German: Loose bread dumplings served along with roasted duck or goose meat is a big staple when it comes to German festivities around the holidays. This dish is often served with the dumplings in loaf fashion along with sides of cabbage or cooked kale. Many surrounding European countries also share this tradition as you will see that many dishes during the holidays may be similar. 

Australian/New Zealand: Pavlova is a dessert that is shaped like a round cake but is meringue based. It holds a hard crispy crust and a light fluffy middle but is simply just a baked meringue. This dessert is topped with tart fruit as well as a cream to enjoy with the inside of the airy cake. 

Mexican: Tamales are a big staple when it comes to celebration in Mexico. What better way to celebrate Christmas than this wonderful dish. Tamales, simply put, consist of a meat filling surrounded by a corn dough as well as the corn husk or banana leaves. You can also add cheese, beans, or your favorite fillings to this dish to make it more personable. 

Slovakian: Halushki is a traditional meal that is simple yet very filling. It is often made with small potato dumplings that are combined with your favorite type of cheese. This makes it a cohesive dish and to top it all off it is usually served with a sprinkle of bacon. (My family usually has this dish during the holidays and I have to say it is probably one of the things I look forward to the most!) 

African: Malva pudding is a pudding that is often a tradition in South Africa. It is a spongy cake that contains apricot jam. This cake is baked and while still warm a rich sauce is poured over so that it soaks into the cake to make it caramelized and allows for a spongy texture. This dish can be used in replacement of a basic dessert you would normally have during the holidays.  

Chinese: Chinese dumplings are widely eaten during the Chinese New Year because they bring in new beginnings and a bid farewell to old times. This food item is usually made with unleavened dough and filled with a savory filling, a lot of the time with meat. Oftentimes it is shaped like a crescent to bring in wealth and prosperity. 


E.N. 



References: 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/christmas-dishes-from-around-the-world 

https://www.jumpstreet.com/blog/12-holiday-dishes-from-around-the-world 

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/christmas-traditions-from-around-the-world 

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