 Click on this image to get the recipe for Viennese Whilrt Mince Pies
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.
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? 
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.  click on the image to learn more at sweden.se
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.  click on the image to isit the Mexico Kitchen's receipe for this drink
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.  Find out more by clicking this image and visiting the Polish Housewife
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 
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  click on the image to visit taste of the place and get their bobotie recipe
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
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  click on the image to go to the Good Food site for this recipe
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. 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.  click on the image to go to the Good Food site for this recipe
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.  Click on the image to go to the recipe from Good Food
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.  click on the image to go to Paul Hollywood's mince pie recipe at Good Food
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.
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.
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