Tastes and smells can invoke memories of Christmases past.  From the first bite of a mince pie or the smell of a Christmas cake cooking, we are drawn back into our childhoods and thoughts of those we love.

​Back in 2022, I mused on the foods of Christmas Past.  As a child, my mum worked at a Bakery and Patisserie run by two wonderful people who grew up in Germany and Austria and brought with them the biscuits and bakes of their childhood.  It was there that I first experienced mince pies with a melt in the mouth while on their top, which I later discovered were called Viennese Whilt Mince Pies.
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Christmas is a time for family, warmth, and tradition, but it’s also an opportunity to celebrate the diverse ways in which cultures across the world mark the festive season. While we may be familiar with the roasts, puddings, and mince pies here in the UK, the Christmas dinner table in different countries can offer a delightful glimpse into unique customs, flavours, and ingredients. Why not explore the international food traditions that bring a new and exciting layer to Christmas celebrations this holiday?
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Italy – The Feast of Seven Fishes
In Italy, Christmas Eve is marked by the La Vigilia, a seafood feast. Known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes, this dinner includes a variety of fish dishes, each prepared differently.

The seven is symbolic, representing the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. From baccalà (salted cod) to fried squid and anchovies, this celebratory meal is a highlight of the Italian Christmas season.

While it’s mostly observed in southern Italy, many Italian families in the UK enjoy this tradition too, bringing with it the unmistakable aroma of fresh seafood on Christmas Eve.

Sweden – Julbord, the Christmas Buffet
In Sweden, Christmas is not just a meal but an event. The Julbord is a traditional Christmas buffet that spans multiple courses, and it’s a sight to behold. From herring served in every conceivable style (pickled, curried, and mustard-flavoured) to jullimpa (Christmas bread) and knäckebröd (crispbread), the Julbord is a feast that includes cold cuts, warm dishes like kåldolmar (cabbage rolls), and the quintessential Swedish Christmas ham. One mustn’t forget the glögg either – a spiced mulled wine, perfect for sipping by the fire.

Learn more about the Swedish Julbord tradition: Sweden.se.
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Mexico – Tamales and Ponche Navideño
In Mexico, Christmas traditions are full of flavour and festive spirit. Tamales, a popular dish made from corn dough and various fillings like chicken, pork, or even sweet treats, are a staple during the holiday season.

​They’re wrapped in corn husks and steamed to perfection, often enjoyed with a steaming cup of ponche navideño, a warm fruit punch made from a blend of seasonal fruits, spices, and sugarcane. It’s the perfect beverage to keep the chill away and enjoy with family and friends.

Discover more about the delicious Mexican Christmas dishes: Food and Wine: Mexican Christmas Food.

Poland – Wigilia and the Twelve Dishes​
Polish Christmas traditions come with their own sense of solemnity and joy.

On Christmas Eve, families gather for Wigilia, a festive meal that is traditionally meatless, honouring the wait for Christ’s birth.

​There are twelve dishes served to symbolise the twelve apostles, and among them, you’ll find barszcz (beetroot soup with sour cream), pierogi (dumplings filled with mushrooms, potatoes​, or sauerkraut), and karp (carp), which is often served as the main course. For dessert, kutia, a sweet grain dish made with honey, poppy seeds, and nuts, adds a sweet touch to the evening’s feast.

Find out more about the Polish Christmas Eve tradition and recipes at : The Polish Housewife
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Romania – Sarmale and Cozonac
In Romania, Christmas is a festive occasion full of hearty, comforting dishes. Sarmale, a traditional dish of cabbage rolls filled with a mix of minced pork, rice, and spices, is often served as the centrepiece of the Christmas meal.

The dish is a labour of love, typically prepared in advance and slow-cooked to perfection.

Alongside the sarmale, cozonac is a much-loved Romanian Christmas sweet bread, often filled with walnuts, cocoa, or Turkish delight. The rich, fragrant bread is served with warm drinks like tuică (a strong plum brandy) to keep the cold winter nights at bay.

Learn more about Romanian Christmas traditions: The Romanian Traditional Cookbook
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South Africa – A Summer Christmas Feast

In South Africa, Christmas takes place during the summer, which means the traditional Christmas meal often takes place outdoors. A braai (barbecue) is common, where families gather to cook meats such as boerewors (a type of sausage), steak, and chicken.

For sides, there’s often potato salad, malva pudding (a sweet, spongy cake), and milk tart, a creamy dessert with a cinnamon dusting.

This laid-back, outdoorsy approach to Christmas dining allows families to enjoy the warm weather and each other’s company, making it a unique and joyful experience.

Bobotie is a classic South African dish that is also often served at Christmas.

Find out more about Christmas in South Africa: Choose from 30 South African Christmas recipes from the South African Recipes website
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Australia – Christmas by the Beach
Australia is home to my husband and many of his family.  Those of us who grew up with the Foster's ads were convinced that no Christmas was complete without 'throwing another shrimp on the Barbie'.

For many Australians who miss the coldness of a Northern Hemisphere Christmas, they will celebrate Christmas in July.  In Murder under the Mistletoe, the famous Australian female sleuth, Phryne Fisher, escapes for a quiet July-based Christmas in the Australian Alps only to be confronted by murder.

So, as I mentioned, prawns on the barbie are a common sight, alongside roast lamb, cold salads, and fruit platters. One popular dish is pavlova, a meringue-based dessert topped with fresh fruit, such as strawberries and kiwi, which is a nod to the season’s abundance. Many families also enjoy Christmas ham, often served cold, paired with a variety of chutneys and relishes. The festive season in Australia is marked by beach outings, family gatherings, and enjoying the sunny weather.  Those of us who have watched Bondi Rescue know all about Christmas at the Beach.

Learn more about Christmas in Australia: Read more on the Amber blog

Germany – Christmas Stollen and Lebkuchen
From the Christmas treats that the bakery my mother worked at made, I think Stollen and Lebkuchen were two of my long-term favourites and, as a coeliac, two of the things I hunt down gluten-free when I can.  Check out Schär for Lebkuchen.

For many years, I was often in Munich during December for work and would visit the Christmas Markets there.  Back in 2007, Hubby and I also went to Cologne for the markets.
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In Germany, the festive season is synonymous with rich, fruity stollen cakes and spicy lebkuchen (gingerbread).

For me, Stollen is one of the biggest Christmas memories. It is a beautiful log of marzipan surrounded by dried fruits, wrapped in yeasted dough, and then covered in icing or powdered sugar to resemble a swaddled baby—a symbolic gesture of the Christ child.

When it's first cut, the Stollen is soft and doughy, then later, the last pieces can be cut thinly and toasted so that it resembles a marzipan-laden tea cake smothered in melting butter. 

So why this particular memory?  My excellent Great Uncle George used to work for the Hudson Bay Company, and at Christmas, he would get a Fortnum's hamper within it, among other things, a turkey, ham, a whole smoked salmon and ... a big, beautiful stollen.  My Great Aunt Eva was very protective of the contents of that hamper and didn't like to share any of it.  Uncle George would sneak me salmon trimming and thinly sliced stollen toasted with more butter than stollen whenever Aunty Eva wasn't looking.

Meanwhile, lebkuchen, often heart-shaped and decorated with icing, is a loved treat throughout the Advent season.

Strictly speaking, lebkuchen is a gingerbread, but it is so much more than that.  Soft and spongy with an open texture, it is chewy and rich.  

Often, it's a yeasted dough, but if you fancy giving it a go but are not yet a bread maker, then this recipe from Good Food may be just right for you.

Both these baked goods make appearances on the Christmas table in many German-speaking regions, including parts of the UK, thanks to Germany’s lasting influence on Christmas traditions.

Read about German Christmas traditions: Want to host a German Christmas with traditional foods? Then check out Food and Drink.

United Kingdom – Christmas Pudding, Mince Pies, and More
Here in the UK, we have our own set of Christmas food traditions.

​Many of us remember our parents rushing to the dining table with a  Christmas pudding on fire where it had been smothered in brandy.

Rich and full of dried fruits, Christmas Pudding is was traditionally steamed (although these days it's often microwaved) and served with a flourish of brandy butter or cream.

Stir-up Sunday, which falls on the last Sunday before Advent, is traditionally when Christmas Puddings are made with the Christmas Cake.   The idea was to make them in advance and then wrap them up and let them mature for Christmas.  Because Christmas pudding takes around 8 hours to steam when they are first cooked, this isn't practical to do on Christmas Day.  So, making them early and then reheating them for only a few hours by steaming is immensely practical. 

These days, because so few of us still make them at home, you will often see shops advertising 'mature' Christmas Puddings with some even stating that they are over 12 months old!  And why stop with just a 'classic' pudding? You can have one with a pear in the middle of a candied satsuma.  Even a chocolate Christmas Pudding.

While the pudding has evolved over the centuries, its origins date back to the 14th century, when it was a type of savoury porridge made with meat and spices, which over time became sweeter and more festive.

Equally iconic are mince pies, which have a fascinating history. Once filled with actual minced meat, suet, and dried fruits, mince pies were originally savoury pies consumed during the festive season.

By the 18th century, however, the recipe had evolved into the sweet, spiced fruit filling we know today, though many still believe that having one on Christmas Eve brings good luck.

Traditionally, they were made in a star or crescent shape, symbolising the Star of Bethlehem and the three wise men's journey.


For more on British Christmas traditions, find more classic Christmas suggestions at Good Food.
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Bringing Friends and Family Closer Through Food
If memory is triggered by the food we eat then you can remember those who you miss through the food you have shared with them at Christmas.

For me, even though I find sprouts a bit hit-and-miss, we include them each Christmas because they evoke my mum.

Choosing a recipe that honours a loved one or includes something that brings back memories of a visit to a wonderful place or friends that you miss is a great way of having them near you at this time.

As we gather with family and friends, there’s something special about savouring the flavours of different cultures, connecting us to the wider world while honouring our own cherished traditions. The Christmas table becomes not just a place of food but a celebration of the unity and joy that comes from sharing what we hold dear – no matter where we come from.

Want to hear more?  Listen to the extended blog on my podcast by clicking on the link below.
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A few weekends ago, we went to the Chatsworth Christmas market.  It's been a while since we have visited a Christmas market, and the Birmingham one is a shadow of its former self, so we thought this might be a good day out.

The market was beautiful, and we bought many presents for ourselves, but overall, I found the experience difficult.  It's been 10 years since my mother died, and on that trip, all the grief and sadness came back.  I missed her and wanted her with us so very, very much.  Hubby and I spoke about it on the trip there and back; with a 200-mile round trip, there was time.  My Aunt has recently died, and he felt that this had brought back all the loss of my mum.  In the end, I took an afternoon off work and tried to do a hard reset on my feelings.  By the weekend, I felt more in control, and instead of the grief, I was remembering my mum with positivity.

Then, yesterday, our world fell apart.  Hubby gets up early to go to work.  I make his lunch whilst he gets ready.  After that, I go back to bed for an hour or so with the cats.  I was just getting out of bed when I got a call from Hubby.  His mum has died.

​I called work, took the day off and today and am trying to just be here for him as he was when my mum died.

Christmas is often seen as a time for celebration, joy, and togetherness. For many, it brings images of bustling kitchens, twinkling lights, and the laughter of family and friends. However, for those who are grieving, Christmas can also bring a sharp reminder of the ones who are no longer with us. As I sit here, typing this blog whilst my Husband kills things on his PS5, I’m reminded that grief doesn’t pause for the season.

It’s often said that time heals all wounds, but grief has a way of making time stand still. Christmas, with its rich traditions and memories, can feel both comforting and painful. For those who are mourning, the joy of the season can be overshadowed by the absence of loved ones who once filled our homes with their presence. Whether it’s a parent, a grandparent, or a dear friend, the empty chair at the dinner table is felt more keenly during the holiday season.

I was trying to understand how grief can still be so dominant years after the loss of a loved one when I came across the concept of grief being like a ball in a box.

​Grief as a Ball in a Box
Grief often lingers long after we wish it would leave. It’s hard to explain to others, and at times, it can be even harder to understand yourself. A way to think about it is through the image of a ball in a box—an analogy that beautifully captures the way grief evolves over time.

Imagine that your grief is represented by a large ball inside a box. The box has a button on one side, and every time the ball touches that button, it causes a sharp, painful sensation. In the early days after losing someone dear to you, that ball feels enormous, and the grief presses up against the button constantly, causing waves of pain. Every moment is a reminder, and it can feel as though the weight of the loss is suffocating, leaving little room for anything else.

But with time, the ball gradually becomes smaller. While the pain doesn’t vanish, it becomes less frequent, and the moments of sharp intensity grow less often. However, it’s important to remember that the ball never fully disappears. It’s always there, and there may still be times when it hits the button unexpectedly, bringing the same overwhelming wave of sadness. These moments might come in the quietest of times, when you least expect them, especially during the holidays, when memories are closest to the surface.

Over time, we learn to live with the ball, to acknowledge its presence without allowing it to take over. Grief becomes part of us, woven into the fabric of who we are, always there but no longer as all-consuming. This process takes time, and Christmas, with its deeply emotional and nostalgic moments, can often feel like a time when the ball is more likely to make contact with that painful button.

But understanding that grief is not a linear journey can bring comfort. It reminds us that we don’t need to rush the process or feel guilty for how we’re feeling. Grief is not a destination—it’s a journey. And while the pain may never fully go away, it does become more bearable as time goes on.

The Silent Weight of Christmas
The holiday season can bring about many emotions. You may feel sadness, anger, or even guilt for not being able to fully embrace the festivities. These feelings are perfectly normal, and it’s important to acknowledge them instead of suppressing them. Grieving at Christmas doesn’t mean you’re not “doing it right”—it simply means you’re allowing yourself to feel the full weight of love and loss.

It’s also a time when the world seems to expect happiness and celebration, which can make grief feel more isolating. But it’s essential to remember that grief doesn’t have a set timeline. It doesn’t follow a neat path from sadness to acceptance. Some days, the weight of missing someone can feel heavier than others, and that’s okay.

Embracing New Traditions
While it’s natural to want to hold onto the traditions that once brought comfort, it’s also okay to create new ones. Grieving at Christmas doesn’t mean you have to give up the traditions you cherish, but perhaps you’ll find solace in adapting them to your current situation. This could be as simple as lighting a candle for your loved one during Christmas dinner or sharing fond memories aloud as a family.

If the thought of traditional celebrations feels overwhelming, it’s perfectly acceptable to scale back or even take a break from the festivities. Focus on what brings you peace and comfort, whether that’s spending time with loved ones, taking a quiet walk, or simply reflecting on the memories of Christmases past.

Seeking Support
Grief, especially during the holiday season, can make you feel like you’re walking a lonely path. But it’s important to remember that you don’t have to face it alone. If you’re struggling, seeking support can make all the difference. There are numerous resources available to help guide you through this challenging time.

The Cruse Bereavement Care website offers guidance on coping with loss, especially during holidays, and they have support services that can provide assistance.

Another helpful resource is The Compassionate Friends, an organisation offering support for families who have lost a child, but their advice and community can also help anyone dealing with loss during the holiday season.

Remembering the Ones We Love
Christmas is a time of remembering, and while the absence of our loved ones can feel overwhelming, it also provides an opportunity to honour their memory. Light a candle in their honour, share stories of their life, or create a small tradition that helps you feel connected to them.

As you grieve, know that it’s okay to experience the full range of emotions, and take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. In our memories and our hearts, those we have lost remain with us—especially at Christmas.
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Wishing you peace and comfort this Christmas, in whatever form that may take.

The Christmas season is a time for traditions, and for many of us in the UK, those traditions include the unforgettable holiday treats that filled our stockings and our hearts in the 70s and 80s. These sweets weren’t just for snacking; they were part of the magic that made Christmas feel like the most wonderful time of the year.

Want to hear the extended blog?  Then, you can listen to it on my podcast.  Or just scroll to the end of this blog to go to the recording.

A Rainbow of Festive Treats
What’s Christmas without a splash of colour? Fruit Pastilles, Black Jacks, and Fruit Salads added vibrance and flavour to our holiday bowls. Each candy brought a burst of fruity sweetness, filling the house with a rainbow of festive cheer. Who could resist the thrill of unwrapping a Black Jack or the tang of a Fruit Salad on a winter’s day?

The Chocolate Tin Tradition
Every family had its tin of Quality Street, Roses, or Heroes. The unwrapping, the careful selection, and sometimes a little family “negotiation” over the last caramel or strawberry cream – these tins were a treasure trove of flavours that we’d wait all year to enjoy.

Find out more about the history of Quality Street and why they are individually wrapped on Wikipedia.
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The Zesty Appeal of Terry’s Chocolate Orange
No holiday was complete without the ritual of “tap,  and unwrap” a Terry’s Chocolate Orange. Each slice of orange-flavoured chocolate offered a bit of Christmas magic, its zesty flavour bringing a unique and unmistakable twist to the season.

Last year, I created chocolate orange covers in the shape of Christmas Puddings and Gnomes.

You can read more about the history of the chocolate orange here on Wikipedia.

The Sophisticated Side of Christmas
Some chocolates, like Ferrero Rocher, Elizabeth Shaw mints, and Matchstick chocolates, felt a bit more grown-up. Whether as a gift or saved for after-dinner treats, these sweets brought an extra touch of elegance to the holiday, making us feel like Christmas was, indeed, a time for a bit of indulgence.

Who can forget the ambassador's party and the Ferrero Rocher?

Lost but Not Forgotten: Meltis Fruit Jellies, Artful Chocolate Boxes, and Chocolate Liqueurs
And then, there were the rare delights: beautifully soft and sugar-coated Meltis Fruit Jellies, chocolates in boxes adorned with classic art, and memorable chocolate liqueurs filled with a splash of spirits.

​These treats were more than just a taste; they were a visual and sensory experience, adding a touch of elegance and mystery to the holiday spread.

Want to hear more?  Then, listen to the extended blog on my podcast by clicking below. 
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