Use code TRIPLE10 to save $10 on your first three grocery orders.

From Greenland to Ethiopia to Puerto Rico: Christmas Around the World

Turkey is overrated. From whale blubber to KFC, here’s what Christmas looks like in the rest of the world.
From Greenland to Ethiopia to Puerto Rico: Christmas Around the World
From Greenland to Ethiopia to Puerto Rico: Christmas Around the World
SideChef
Welcome to SideChef's original recipes. Created from scratch in the SideChef Kitchen, where recipe inspiration and ingredient experimentation is a way of life.
GO TO BLOG
Love This Recipe?
SideChef
Welcome to SideChef's original recipes. Created from scratch in the SideChef Kitchen, where recipe inspiration and ingredient experimentation is a way of life.
GO TO BLOG

Europe

First, we travel to a continent known for its abundance of Christmas cheer, with markets, traditions, and delicious meals galore.

Germany

section-image

Frohe Weihnachten! (German)
Date: December 25th
Try: Stollen, a fruit bread containing dried fruit and dusted with powdered sugar.
Fun Fact: Instead of Santa Claus, German children write letters hoping to receive presents from der Weihnachtsmann or das Christkind, who traditionally deliver presents on December 24th. In addition, they have Saint Nicholas, who puts little gifts in children’s shoes on December 6th.

UK

LOW-FATPEANUT-FREE

Christmas Mince Pies 圣诞甜果派

Huang Kitchen

Date: December 25th
Try: Mince pies, small pies filled with minced meat, a preserve made of dried fruits and spices soaked in rum and brandy.
Fun Fact: Christmas dinner is decorated with Christmas crackers filled with little toys.

Italy

LOW-FATPEANUT-FREE

Panettone

Bake with Paws

Buon Natale! (Italian)
Date: December 25th
Try: Panettone, a sweet bread loaf containing raisins and candied fruit.
Fun Fact: Throughout the festive season, a nativity scene (presepe) is put up as an important part of the Christmas decoration.

Russia

EASYPEANUT-FREE

Russian Tea Cakes

Homemade and Wholesome

С Рождеством! (S rozhdestvóm; Russian)
Date: January 7th
Try: пряники (pryaniki), Russian spice cookies.
Fun Fact: Russia’s Santa Claus is called Дед Мороз (Ded Moroz, meaning ‘Grandfather Frost’), usually depicted in silver-blue robes and often accompanied by his granddaughter, Снегурочка (Snegúrochka, the Snow Maiden).

Greenland

section-image

Juullimi Pilluarit! (Greenlandic)
Glædelig Jul! (Danish)
Date: December 25th
Try: Mattak, or muktuk, raw strips of whale blubber wrapped in whale skin.
Fact: Traditionally men serve the women for the Christmas meal.

(Image source: http://bit.ly/2gwShXf)

Africa

A big continent requires a big appetite, so put on your loosest pants and get ready to eat your way through Africa with traditional Christmas foods like lamb stew and spicy curry!

Ethiopia

section-image

መልካም ገና! (melkam genna; Amharic)
Date: January 7th
Try: Doro wat, a spicy stew or curry, served on injera, a spongy flatbread.
Fun Fact: A popular game called ‘yegena chewata,’ similar to hockey, is played by young boys during Christmas. According to one myth, when Jesus Christ was born, the news spread everywhere and the shepherds were so excited that they began leaping around and throwing things, hence creating the game.

(Image source: http://bit.ly/2h1mJw0)

Egypt

section-image

عيد ميلاد سعيد (‘eed milaad sa3eed; Arabic)
Date: January 7th
Try: Fata, a lamb stew with rice, bread, and garlic.
Fun Fact: Christians make up 15% of Egypt's population.

(Image source: http://bit.ly/2h0hfQ2)

Asia

We may think of palm trees and white sand beaches when it comes to this continent, but Asia knows cozy winter comfort food too.

Philippines

section-image

Maligayang Pasko! (Tagalog)
Date: December 25th
Try: Puto bumbong, a sweet purple dessert made from sticky rice, topped with butter and shredded coconut mixed with sugar.
Fun Fact: People stay up all night on Christmas Eve for a huge midnight feast called Noche Buena.

(Image source: http://bit.ly/2gXcAhg)

Japan

LOW-FATPEANUT-FREE

KFC Keto Fried Chicken

Nicko's Kitchen

メリークリスマス! (merīkurisumasu; Japanese)
Date: December 25th
Try: KFC.
Fun Fact: In 1974, after hearing about Western expats turning to fried chicken since they couldn’t find turkeys, KFC launched a Christmas Chicken campaign, the slogan of which was “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” or “Kentucky for Christmas!” This campaign is still going strong 40 years later. Nowadays, orders for fried chicken, champagne, and cake must be placed weeks in advance.

North America

Look no further than our Northern neighbor for some of the tastiest Christmas treats.

Canada

TREE NUT-FREEFISH-FREE

Vegan Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars

The Edgy Veg

Date: December 25th
Try: Nanaimo bars, a three-layered treat consisting of a crumb-based layer at the bottom, a custard layer in the middle, and a milk chocolate layer on top.
Fun Fact: Carol singers are called ‘mummers’ in Newfoundland.

South America

South America knows how to do food and drink right, so it's no surprise that some of the tastiest holiday dishes come from this part of the world!

Venezuela

section-image

Feliz Navidad! (Spanish)
Date: December 24th
Try: Hallaca, a type of corn tamale stuffed with meat stew, raisins, capers, and olives and wrapped in plantain leaves, then boiled.
Fun Fact: A lot of people believe that wearing yellow on New Year’s Eve will bring good luck!

(Image source: http://bit.ly/2gKnU2J)

Puerto Rico

section-image

Feliz Navidad! (Spanish)
Date: December 25th
Try: Coquito, a creamy, coconut and cinnamon rum drink.
Fun Fact: A popular Puerto Rican tradition is the parranda, when a group of friends travel from one house to another singing and partying until dawn!
(Image source: http://bit.ly/2h1jDby)

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and happy eating, wherever you are in the world!

Get weekly recipes, grocery shopping, meal planning, and home-cooking inspiration sent straight in your inbox
Will be used in accordance with our PRIVACY POLICY.
ARTICLE
Host with the Most: 7 Crowd-Pleasing Recipes for Your Next Holiday Party
ARTICLE
10 Hispanic Holiday Treats That Will Spice Up Your Winter Gatherings
LEARN COOK EAT
How to Make Crispy Baked Chicken Wings: the Ultimate Guide
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
20 Best Gifts for Foodies Who Love to Cook and Have Fun
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Tacos Are Trending on Tinder and Other 22 Taco Facts You Didn’t Know
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
We Matched 16 Great Cocktails to Every Personality Type
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Is Walmart Open on Thanksgiving 2022?
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
What to Do With Leftover Easter Eggs
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Easy Guide to Creating Custom Recipes With Grocery Shopping Lists
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Irish Food: The Hug You Didn’t Know You Needed
WHAT'S IN SEASON
Sliders Are Better Than Burgers: 8 Sliders Recipes to Prove It
TRIED & TESTED
We Tried 50 Times and Here's How to Make Perfect Scrambled Eggs
ARTICLE
Host with the Most: 7 Crowd-Pleasing Recipes for Your Next Holiday Party
These shareable baked goods, finger foods, and captivating drinks will make you the most popular host (or guest) at any holiday gathering this winter!
ARTICLE
10 Hispanic Holiday Treats That Will Spice Up Your Winter Gatherings
Sweets, treats, and spiked drinks round out this flavorful list of seasonal favorites from around the Spanish-speaking world.
LEARN COOK EAT
How to Make Crispy Baked Chicken Wings: the Ultimate Guide
Whether it’s for a game night party or just your late-night cravings. Forget deep frying and make crispy baked chicken wings in the oven!
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
20 Best Gifts for Foodies Who Love to Cook and Have Fun
We know someone passionate about cooking deserves something special this holiday season. If you've been struggling to find the perfect gift for the foodie in your life, look no further! From kitchen gadgets to tasty treats, we've got the best foodie gift ideas right here.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Tacos Are Trending on Tinder and Other 22 Taco Facts You Didn’t Know
We all know that tacos are delicious. We all know you can have tacos for breakfast, tacos for lunch, tacos for dinner, for munchies, for a game night, for after-hours… you should know that you can have a taco bar for your wedding (number one on my #WeddingGoals pinboard). But I bet you didn’t know most of these taco facts.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
We Matched 16 Great Cocktails to Every Personality Type
In the name of mixology and psychology, we have found a great cocktail that perfectly matches your MBTI personality type. Should you be making a White Russian or an Espresso Martini? Only one way to find out - take a look at this fun list to find which cocktail recipe mixes well with your personality.
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Is Walmart Open on Thanksgiving 2022?
When you are planning Thanksgiving dinner, grocery shopping is one of the essential tasks. What to do if there is this one last-minute item you forgot to get? Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving Day for a quick grocery run?
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
What to Do With Leftover Easter Eggs
After Easter festivities are said and done, you're probably hunting for ways to use up all those leftover eggs. Lucky for you, eggs are one of the most versatile ingredients; here are just a few ways to get creative with 'em!
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Easy Guide to Creating Custom Recipes With Grocery Shopping Lists
SideChef lets you create custom recipes and turn them into grocery shopping lists. Save all your favorite recipes in one place and shop the ingredients in one click!
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Irish Food: The Hug You Didn’t Know You Needed
Setting the record straight: Ireland has a lot more to offer than majestic rolling hills and cozy pubs.
WHAT'S IN SEASON
Sliders Are Better Than Burgers: 8 Sliders Recipes to Prove It
Sliders are not just mini burgers. Forget the classic burger and check out these addictive sliders recipes instead - from everyone’s favorite buffalo chicken sliders to sinfully delicious Kentucky hot brown sandwiches.
TRIED & TESTED
We Tried 50 Times and Here's How to Make Perfect Scrambled Eggs
Everyone wants soft and creamy scrambled eggs and has their secret cooking hack to achieve it. We tried it all, scrambled 50 eggs in 50 slightly different ways, and here’s what we have learned.