It’s finally here – Merry Christmas everyone! Have a wonderful day and try not to turn into a Christmas pudding. Im celebration, here’s how other countries like to celebrate the holidays with food – and how to say Merry Christmas in each language, obviously. Consider it our Christmas present to you!
Japan
How to say Merry Christmas: Merīkurisumasu!
The Japenese have the rather unique tradition of eating KFC on Christmas day! Local people can place orders at their nearest joint and there can be waiting lists of up to two months and you can order takeaway way in advance!
Germany
How to say Merry Christmas: Frohe Weihnachten!
Germans love a bit of Raclette, which is a kitchen device where everyone gets a small pan, fills it with different things such as salami, ham, mushrooms, onions, corn, peppers, and, most importantly, the special Raclette cheese, and grills it slowly. Grilled meat or scampi is also placed on top of the Raclette. Sounds pretty tasty to us!
France
How to say Merry Christmas: Joyeux Noël!
Traditionally served after midnight mass, the French Christmas meal is known as Le Reveillon. Though it varies from region to region, it’s almost always served with champagne. Foie gras (goose or duck liver) is a common appetizer, as are oysters, smoked salmon and (in Brittany) buckwheat crepes. Glam!
Italy
How to say Merry Christmas: Buon Natale!
The Christmas Eve dinner known as the Feast of Seven Fishes, while originally of Sicilian origin, is a custom more popular in the USA than in Italy, but there’s still certainly a tradition of serving fish on Christmas Eve. There will also be plenty of delicious pannetone on offer.
Peru
How to say Merry Christmas: Feliz Navidad!
Beginning in early December, Peruvian churches hold Chocolatadas. Using money donated by townspeople, organizers bake panettone and make spiced hot chocolate in huge kettles. The pastry and chocolate is then served to the less fortunate as a celebration of the season!
Sweden
How to say Merry Christmas: God Jul
In Sweden, the festivities begin on December 13th with the celebration of St. Lucia’s Day. Traditionally, the eldest daughter of the family, dressed all in white and wearing a crown of lingonberry branches, serves her family St. Lucia Day buns (lussekatts) and coffee, plus a ‘julbord’ comprised of hams, meatballs and caramel potatoes (which sound delicious!). There’s also plenty of Glogg (warm mulled wine) on offer.
The Caribbean
How to say Merry Christmas: Merry Christmas! (Most Caribbeans speak English!)
Sorrel punch packs an, erm, punch at Christmas, which is a seasonal island drink that gets its bright red color from hibiscus flowers! The flowers and other ingredients like cloves and cinnamon are steeped in water overnight to make an aromatic liquid, which can be combined with rum to make a sweet cocktail.
Romania
Christmas dinner in Romania is a rather dramatic affair; in many rural areas centering around pork. Traditionally, on December 20th a pig is slaughtered in honor of St. Ignatius. The meat from the pig is then used as the basis of the Craciun (Christmas) dinner. Be very, very glad that you can buy your turkey from Tesco!
Spain
How to say Merry Christmas: Feliz Navidad!
In many countries the main Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve, and in Spain the feasting doesn’t usually begin until after 10pm. A typical Spanish Christmas meal, particularly in coastal regions, might consist of tapas plates of cheese and ham followed by seafood soup and dishes of baby eels, king prawns and baked fish.
