2. Global Christmas
Source of Recipe
Food Network
Recipe Introduction
Christmas is celebrated throughout the U.S., and in homes all around the world. To give you a global taste of Christmas, we've gathered holiday traditions
England:
Before Christmas dinner, guests engage in a traditional game using special holiday crackers. Two guests hold each end of the paper cracker tube and pull hard until the two halves split and paper hats and toys fall onto the table. For dessert, a plum pudding soaked with warm brandy is set aflame. Each slice is topped with a hard sauce--a rich concoction of butter, sugar, and brandy. And for post-meal merriment, guests gather in the living room to hear Queen Elizabeth's annual Christmas address to the nation.
France:
After attending a midnight service on Christmas Eve, the French devour a feast called "le reveillon." Main courses vary according to region and may include goose, turkey with chestnuts, oysters, and foie gras. The traditional dessert is the Buche de Noel, a decadent Yule-log shaped cake.
On Christmas Eve, children put their shoes by the fireplace in hopes that "Père Noel"--Father Christmas--will fill them with presents. But if they've been naughty instead of nice, his companion "Père Fouettard"--Father Spanker--doles out a spanking instead.
Nearly every French home at Christmas time displays a Nativity scene or crèche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France, and though the use of the Yule log has faded, the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the bûche de Noël, which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other great food is served during the Christmas eve supper (le réveillon) held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu for the meal varies according to regional culinary tradition. In Alsace, goose is the main course, in Burgundy it is turkey with chestnuts, and the Parisians feast upon oysters and foie gras.
French children receive gifts from Père Noël (Father Christmas or Santa Claus). In some parts of France Père Noël brings small gifts on St. Nicholas Eve (December 6) and visits again on Christmas. In other places it is le petit Jésus who brings the gifts. Generally, adults wait until New Year's Day to exchange gifts
Italy:
Italians fast for 24 hours before Christmas, then indulge in a multi-course meatless feast called the "Cennone." Traditional dishes include spaghetti and anchovies, fresh broccoli, salad, assorted fish, fruits, and sweets.
Family members draw gifts from the Urn of Fate, a large, decorative bowl that holds wrapped presents. Instead of Santa Claus, La Befana--a witch-like character that rides a broomstick--gives gifts to children. Bad children have to make do with lumps of coal.
The popularity of the Nativity scene, one of the most beloved and enduring symbols of the holiday season, originated in Italy. St. Francis of Assisi reportedly performed a mass in front of an early Nativity scene, which inspired awe and devotion in all who saw it. The creation of the figures or pastori became an entire genre of folk art.
The main exchange of gifts takes place on January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, the celebration in remembrance of the three wise men's (Magi) visit to the baby Jesus. Children anxiously await a visit from La Befana who brings gifts for the good and punishment for the bad (similarly to St. Nicholas in German speaking countries on December 6). According to legend, the three wise men stopped during their journey and asked an old woman for food and shelter. She refused them and they continued on their way. Within a few hours the woman changed her mind but the Magi were long gone. La Befana, which means Epiphany, still wonders the earth searching for the Christ Child. She is depicted in various ways: as a fairy queen, a crone, or a witch.
Germany:
Traditionally, the holiday season starts with St. Nicholas' day, December 6. St. Nicholas traveling with a dark faced companion brings gifts to German children After the reformation, authorities frowned upon the idea of having a character representing the bishop/saint distributing gifts. As a result St. Nicholas' modern incarnation Santa Claus was born, complete with long white beard, red suit, and sleigh.
We can trace some of our most beloved holiday traditions to Germany. The Christmas season officially begins with the beginning of Advent, four Sundays before Christmas Day. The tradition of the Advent wreath, a circle of greenery in which four candles are set, originated with the German Lutherans. One candle is lit the first Sunday of Advent, two are lit the second Sunday, and so on until the fourth Sunday. A large white candle in the center is lit on Christmas Day. The Advent calendar, an elaborate calendar with windows, behind which a piece of candy or chocolate can be found, is used by children to count down the days until Christmas and also originated in Germany.
The Christmas Tree owes its widespread popularity to Germany. In the Middle Ages, the Germans would put on a religious play each December 24th. Over the centuries the plays and associated festivities strayed from their religious origins. However, people continued to set up and decorate a tree in their home every year at Christmas. In 1880 glassmakers discovered how to make blown glass balls and bells, which became the decorations used to trim Christmas trees all over the world
Mexico:
Christmas festivities begin on December 16 with "Las Posadas," nine days of candlelight processions and parties. On "Nocha Buena" (Christmas Eve), families attend the late-night "Misa de Gallo"--Rooster's Mass--followed by a traditional Christmas dinner. Dishes may include tamales, "atole" (corn gruel), "bacalao a la vizcaina" (Biscayan cod), and "revoltijo de romeritos" (wild greens in mole sauce). A hot fruit punch or sparkling cider complements the meal, followed by gift-opening, more piñatas, and sparklers for the children.
Russia:
Christmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7, in accordance with the Russian Orthodox calendar. Many Russians observe fasts, which they break on Christmas Eve with a multi-course feast. The main dish is a porridge called "kutya." It’s eaten from a common dish and made from wheatberries or similar grains--signifying hope and immortality--and honey and poppy seeds to ensure happiness, success, and peace. Instead of Santa Claus, children eagerly await Grandfather Frost, "Ded Moroz," who brings gifts.
Scandinavia:
In Norway, traditional Christmas festivities start weeks before the holiday. Families brew "Juleol," a special Christmas beer, cook traditional pork dishes, bake biscuits, cookies, and small cakes and prepare the "julekake," a sweet bread filled with raisins, candied peel, and cardamom. The Christmas Eve meal consists of porridge, fresh cod or "lutefisk"--boiled cod treated in lye solution--while Christmas Day dinner usually features a main pork dish.
Swedes have a month-long Christmas celebration beginning on December 13, the feast of St. Lucia. Christmas is celebrated on December 24 with rice pudding and ginger cookies. In Denmark, the Christmas feast is held at midnight on Christmas Eve. The highlight is dessert--a special rice pudding with an almond hidden inside. Whoever finds the almond is blessed with good luck for the following year.
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