When the stockings have been filled then emptied and after
Santa has made his appointed rounds families around the globe begin the
preparations (or in some instances continue them) to prepare the family feast
that is most often associated with Christmas Dinner. There are many traditions
around the world though sadly far too few families have the opportunity to
experience some of the rich traditions and delicious foods that mark the
Christmas holidays in other corners of the globe, or even across each
individual nation.
In certain parts of Italy ,
because of the Catholic tradition of abstaining from red meat on Christmas Eve
day, there is a tradition of having fish for the evening meal. This is commonly
referred to as a 7 fishes dinner and is a fascinating tradition for those who
enjoy seafood. It’s certainly a new and refreshing dinner idea for many people
if you are looking for something a little different from the ordinary. Even if
fish really isn’t your food of choice there is no rule that says you can’t
prepare a nice Italian feast for your Christmas dinner. The important thing is
that you have friends and family gathered near and prepare the food with love.
You do not have to have turkey or ham in order for the meal to qualify as Christmas
and there is no reason that you have to stick with traditions that you really
do not enjoy.
A traditional German Christmas dinner might be a neat
tradition to try in America
as well if you are looking to introduce your family to various cultures or just
want to do a little something extraordinary for Christmas this year. One thing
to note is that many Germans have their Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve
rather than Christmas Day. A traditional German Christmas dinner often consists
of dishes such as stuffed Christmas Goose, Potato Dumplings, Red Cabbage, and
Baked Apples for dessert. Of course you do not have to choose a traditional
Christmas dinner for your Christmas German cuisine there are plenty of great
German dishes that can be enjoyed if you wish to bring a German theme to your
Christmas table. Do whatever tastes good and it might be best to choose foods
that are relatively easy to prepare rather than those that are time consuming
so that you can enjoy time with friends and family rather than cooped up in the
kitchen.
If a taste of the UK
is what you have in mind for your Christmas Dinner table then you might find
the foods bring a flavor that is a little closer to home than you may realize.
Popular Christmas dinner favorites in the UK
include dishes such as roasted turkey, roasted potatoes, brussel sprouts,
dressing, and pudding pie. One interesting tradition that is popular in the UK
is that of Christmas crackers, which hold little gifts and goodies inside.
Another interesting choice for your Christmas table may be
to include your favorite Mexican dishes for dinner. Most Americans have a soft
spot for Mexican cuisine and it is definitely warming to eat on a cold winter’s
day. The point is to make your Christmas dinner menu fun to eat, fun to
prepare, and something that is likely to make your guests smile while building
fond memories of your Christmas day.
The same may be said of most cuisines, even those from
cultures that do not traditionally celebrate Christmas. Thai, Indian, Chinese
foods make wonderful themes for a Christmas table if you are knowledgeable
about the cuisine and willing to undertake the tasks of preparation as part of
your Christmas dinner plans. The trick is really in finding dishes that are
relatively simple to prepare, difficult to mess up, and can easily be skipped
in the event that something does go wrong. There are tons of distractions on
Christmas in most households and you do not want Christmas dinner ruined
because one dish is proving difficult or impossible or (heaven forbid) gets
burned, dropped on the floor, or eaten by the dog.
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