What will your Christmas dinner look like this year? (Picture: Getty Images)
Let’s face it – Christmas dinner is easily one of the most anticipated meals of the year, and with good reason.
The traditional feast in the UK of turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and other vegetables makes for a sublime combination, no matter how you choose to put your own spin on it.
However, what do people celebrating Christmas around the world opt for?
Whether you’re looking for a bit of inspiration or purely out of interest – here is everything you need to know.
What does Christmas dinner look like around the world?
While it is, of course, not wholly universal, Christmas is celebrated in many countries and cultures around the world.
However, when it comes to what constitutes a traditional Christmas meal, ingredients and preparation can vary massively from place to place.
Norway
In Norway, it is by no means unheard of to dine on a roasted sheep head as the centrepiece of your Christmas meal.
Known as Smalahove, the dish is soaked, dried, and salted in preparation. It’s also not uncommon for the dish to be served for Sunday dinner.
Australia
It’s probably fair to say that Australia is pretty famous worldwide for their al-fresco approach to cooking, and, for many, Christmas is no different.
Speaking to Balsamhill.com, Charlotte from Sydney said: ‘We always have steak, sausages, chicken skewers and sweet potato as part of a traditional Aussie barbecue.’
‘It is 86 degrees Fahrenheit after all! My lovely fiancé, Stephen, cooks the meal for the two of us to share.’
Poland
Pierogi feature on the Christmas dinner table in Poland (Picture: Getty Images)
Poland is famous around the world for its dumplings, and the Christmas season is no exception.
Several different varieties are popular at Christmas, usually accompanying other dishes.
Mateusz from Zabrze told Balsam Hill: ‘Our main dish is always fried carp, a traditional Christmas meal in Poland. Alongside this are two kinds of dumpling – pierogi ruskie (with cottage cheese and potatoes) and pierogi with mushrooms and cabbage.’
‘We also eat borscht (a sour beetroot soup that we serve with little mushroom dumplings) and mushroom soup with noodles. For dessert there is dried fruit compote, a poppy-seed dessert known as makowiec, gingerbread, walnuts and sunflower seeds.’
Japan
Something of a standout on the list of Christmas meals is the choice of many residents of Japan – KFC.
Yes, Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Upon introduction to Japan, the fast food brand made a big pitch for Christmas meals from its first store.
However, according to the BBC,’ In 1974, KFC took the marketing plan national, calling it Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii, or Kentucky for Christmas.’
It became so popular that the chain now serves an estimated 3.6 million families over the festive season, with meals having to be pre-ordered in advance.
Would you be happy to have KFC at Christmas? (Credits: Getty Images)
Ghana
Omo Tuo is a dish popular in Ghana at Christmas that consists of rice balls with chicken and fish in a palm nut soup.
ISAAC from Accra, Ghana, said: ‘The rice balls have to be pounded for a long time. In other years we have eaten fufu, a staple food made from cassava and plantain, with a chicken or goat soup. It’s delicious and we can always go back for more servings.’
MORE : 11 top tips to make your baby’s first Christmas extra special
MORE : The most energy efficient way to cook a Christmas dinner
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below
Some of these may sound more appetising than others.
