Christmas tastes different depending on where you are in the world. It could be smoky, sweet, spiced, roasted, creamy or even deep-fried. Every dish tells a story of family, migration and traditions carried lovingly across generations. For those living far from home, recreating these flavours becomes a way to stay close to the people and places they miss most.
So let’s take a sleigh ride through a tasty journey of traditional Christmas dishes around the world. 👀🌍
Lechón – The Philippines
Lechón is a whole pig slowly roasted over charcoal until its skin becomes irresistibly crisp. This festive centrepiece has deep roots in Filipino communal celebrations, influenced by both Indigenous cooking methods and Spanish heritage. The pig is stuffed with aromatics such as lemongrass, garlic, and onions, giving the meat a fragrant, savoury flavour that fills Filipino homes during Noche Buena on Christmas Eve.
Lechón is far more than a dish, it symbolises abundance, generosity, and togetherness. Filipinos often say that if lechón is on the table, the celebration is truly special. Even families living abroad often recreate versions of this beloved dish to keep a taste of home alive.
Natilla – Colombia
Natilla is a thick, creamy, custard-like dessert made from milk, cornstarch, panela and cinnamon. It is inseparable from Colombian Christmas, especially during La Novena de Aguinaldos — nine nights of prayers, music and gatherings before Christmas.
Unlike Spanish natillas, the Colombian version is less eggy and more caramel-like thanks to panela. It is usually enjoyed with buñuelos, light cheese fritters that add a contrasting texture. Natilla is all about comfort, community and the sweet joy of sharing treats with family and neighbours.
Panettone – Italy
Panettone is a tall, dome-shaped Italian Christmas bread filled with candied citrus, raisins, and vanilla. Originating in Milan, it evolved from medieval celebratory breads into the globally adored loaf seen everywhere in December.
Its airy texture comes from a slow fermentation process taking up to three days, a true showcase of Italian baking skill. Panettone is enjoyed with coffee, sweet wine, or simply as a snack throughout the holiday season. Across Italy, people lovingly argue about which bakery makes the best version.
In recent years, Panettone has experienced a renaissance. Bakeries now offer versions filled with pistachio cream, tiramisu-style fillings, chocolate spreads, or specialty liqueur-infused creams. This modern reinvention has turned a centuries-old tradition into a dessert phenomenon adored worldwide.
Pavlova – Australia / New Zealand
Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert with a crisp exterior and marshmallow-soft centre, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. It is a star of Christmas celebrations in Australia and New Zealand, where the holiday season falls in the height of summer.
Though both nations claim to have invented it, pavlova has become a shared symbol of festive identity across the region. Its refreshing sweetness and seasonal fruit make it the perfect warm-weather Christmas dessert, often enjoyed alongside grilled seafood, salads and outdoor gatherings.
Fun fact: On Christmas Day, searches for “easy pavlova recipe” spike across Australia and New Zealand, and Instagram becomes a sea of pavs decorated with kiwifruit, berries, passionfruit and sometimes edible flowers.
Pierogi – Poland
Pierogi are soft, filled dumplings made from unleavened dough, and they play an important role in Polish Christmas traditions. Christmas Eve, known as Wigilia, features a meat-free meal of symbolic dishes, and pierogi are often one of the highlights. They’re commonly filled with sauerkraut, mushrooms, cheese, or mashed potatoes, then served with fried onions or butter.
Their handmade nature and the time spent preparing them bring families together, making pierogi a comforting and meaningful part of the holiday celebration.
Bûche de Noël – France
A Bûche de Noël is a rolled sponge cake decorated to resemble a Yule log and served as a traditional Christmas dessert in France. Its origins lie in an old European custom of burning a large log during winter festivities to bring luck for the new year.
French pâtisserie later transformed this symbolic log into an edible showpiece, filled with buttercream or ganache and decorated with chocolate bark, meringue mushrooms, and “snowy” powdered sugar. The Bûche de Noël reflects France’s artistic approach to food and its ability to blend ancient symbolism with modern culinary elegance.
KFC – Japan
Japan’s Christmas tradition of eating KFC is a nationwide custom born from a hugely successful 1970s advertising campaign. With no established national Christmas food traditions at the time, KFC positioned itself as the perfect “Western-style” holiday meal through the famous slogan “Kentucky for Christmas!”
As the tradition took hold, demand skyrocketed. Today, people line up for hours on December 24th and 25th, with queues winding around blocks outside KFC stores. Without a reservation, wait times can reach 2–3 hours. Some customers report waiting up to 4 hours at popular branches in Tokyo and Osaka.
During Christmas week, KFC stores become organised chaos — staff work nonstop, and operations run like assembly lines to meet demand. The phenomenon is so iconic that Japanese news outlets report from KFC storefronts every year to capture the excitement.
Roast with all the trimmings – United Kingdom
A British Christmas meal is a hearty roast served with classic side dishes such as roast potatoes, vegetables, pigs in blankets, Yorkshire pudding, and gravy. It is typically enjoyed on the afternoon of December 25th and remains one of the UK’s strongest culinary traditions.
Families may choose turkey, goose, beef, or ham as their centrepiece, but the “trimmings” are essential. Christmas pudding, mince pies, or chocolate Yule log often follow.
Jollof Rice – West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal)
Jollof Rice is rice cooked in a seasoned tomato and pepper base, it is vibrant in colour and bold in flavour. One of West Africa’s most beloved celebratory dishes and a Christmas essential for many families.
Jollof is often served with grilled chicken, fried plantains and salads, forming the centre of a lively Christmas feast that brings communities together.
Mulled Wine – Germany
Glühwein is Germany’s traditional mulled wine made by warming red wine with spices, citrus, and sugar. It is closely associated with Christmas markets, where its aroma fills the air and helps visitors stay warm in the winter chill.
The drink dates back to ancient Roman spiced wines believed to promote health. In modern Germany, Glühwein has become a symbol of festive togetherness, enjoyed with friends and family under sparkling Christmas lights.
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