Christmas dinner is a special meal eaten during the Christmas holiday. It can be enjoyed from the evening of Christmas Eve to the evening of Christmas Day. These meals are often rich and full of food, following traditions from Christian celebrations. They are an important part of gatherings that mark the beginning of the Christmas season. In many places, the meal includes a special tradition, such as saying a prayer before eating.
The specific foods served vary around the world, showing different regional cuisines and customs. In many countries, especially those that were once part of the British Empire, the meal includes dishes similar to traditional English Christmas food, like roasted meats and various types of pudding. Dishes such as Christmas pudding and Christmas cake come from these British traditions. However, people in different parts of the world have changed these traditions over time, adding local ingredients, cooking methods, and customs to create unique ways of celebrating Christmas.
Asia
Long-time Christian communities, such as Goan Catholics, usually have pork and beef dishes as part of their main Christmas dinner. Popular dishes include pork vindaloo and sarapatel. For dessert, a traditional sweet called bebinca is often served.
In Kerala, home to India's largest Christian community, plum cake is a celebrated Christmas dessert. Families usually gather to cut the cake after midnight mass, a custom that has become an important part of Kerala's Christmas celebrations. Wines made from grapes, pineapples, gooseberries, or other fruits are also enjoyed during the festivities.
Japanese Christmas cake, a white sponge cake covered with cream and decorated with strawberries, is widely eaten during the Christmas season. Stollen cake, produced locally, is also readily available. A successful advertising campaign in the 1970s made eating at KFC around Christmas a national custom. The restaurant's chicken meals have become so popular during the season that stores accept reservations months in advance.
Lebanese Christians celebrate Christmas with large family feasts, typically held on the evening of December 24 and at lunch on December 25. Both meals bring the extended family together, with some households serving leftovers from the Christmas Eve dinner alongside the Christmas Day lunch. The traditional offering is sugar-coated almonds. Roast turkey is the most common main dish, often served with roasted duck, Lebanese salad (Tabbouleh), and pastries such as honey cake. Beirut marks the season with elaborate Christmas parties, while Western-style poinsettias, community Christmas trees, and Christmas lights have become popular decorations.
On Christmas Eve, Malaysian Christians prepare various cakes and local foods for the celebration. Christmas dinner in Malaysia features a mix of traditional Western cuisine and local indigenous flavors. Major hotels in large cities offer special Christmas buffets that include this cultural blend.
In the Philippines, Christmas dinner is called Noche Buena, following Hispanic tradition, and is usually held near midnight on December 24. This celebration typically follows the entire family's attendance at the late evening Mass called Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster). The main dish is often hamón, which is a cured leg of pork. This is usually served alongside queso de bola, a ball of Edam cheese covered in red wax. Other common dishes include pasta and, for dessert, fruit salad. The dinner is usually accompanied by tsokolate, or hot cocoa, made with pure, locally grown cacao beans. Some families prefer tsokolate made from tablea, pressed cocoa powder tablets that are either pure or slightly sweetened. Most foods served on Noche Buena are fresh and prepared on Christmas Eve itself. Middle-class and wealthy families often prepare large feasts, while less wealthy families choose simpler celebrations. The effort to gather even for small events despite financial challenges shows the importance of family and community unity in Filipino culture.
Common traditional dishes for the main course include lechón, various types of pancit (noodles), Filipino spaghetti, hamonado, jamón, queso de bola, morcón, embutido, chicken galantina, almondigas (meatballs), paelya (arroz valenciana, bringhe), lumpia, menudo, mechado, caldereta, callos, chicken pastel, relyenong bangús (stuffed milkfish), lengua estofado, adobo, and various types of barbecue (inihaw). Nearly all of these dishes are eaten with white rice.
Meanwhile, desserts and side dishes include úbe halayá, turon, leche flan, macaroni salad, membrilyo, fruit salad, buko salad, crema de fruta, ensaymada, champorado, mango float, fruitcake, castañas (roasted chestnuts), and various kakanin (rice cakes) such as puto bumbong, bibingka, suman, biko, and sapin-sapin. Popular beverages include tsokolate as well as coffee, soda, wine, beer, other alcoholic drinks, and fruit juices.
This focus on family is common across all Filipino socioeconomic classes and ethnic groups that observe Christmas. Most, if not all, members from the branches or extended families within a clan are expected to attend Noche Buena. Relatives living abroad, especially OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers), are strongly encouraged to return home for the occasion, as it is the most important Filipino Christian holiday of the year. Most families prefer to exchange Christmas presents immediately after dinner, contrary to the Western custom of opening presents on Christmas morning.
Europe
In Austria, Christmas Eve is a time when people celebrate the end of the pre-Christmas fast. Christmas is mainly celebrated by Christians. Historically, Christmas Eve was when the Christmas tree was decorated and lit with real candles, waiting for the Christkindl (Christ Child) to visit. Christmas Day is a national holiday in Austria, and most Austrians spend the day eating with their families. Traditional foods include fried carp, Sachertorte, and Christmas biscuits (Lebkuchen and Weihnachtssterne), along with many chocolate treats and edible Christmas decorations. Christmas dinner often includes goose or ham, served with Gluhwein, Rumpunsch, and chocolate mousse.
In the Czech Republic, a traditional Christmas meal on December 24 includes fried carp and potato salad. The meal is often paired with fish soup made from carp leftovers, such as the head or bones, and traditional dishes like Kuba or Černá omáčka (Black sauce), made with dried fruits, nuts, wine, and gingerbread. Many households prepare Christmas biscuits weeks ahead, which take time to decorate. It is also common to hang wrapped chocolate sweets on the Christmas tree for children.
In Denmark, a traditional Christmas meal on December 24 includes duck (66% of households), roast pork with crackling (43%), turkey (8%), or goose (7%). Some families prepare multiple meats, which is why the total percentage exceeds 100%. The meal is served with boiled potatoes (some caramelized or roasted), red cabbage, and gravy. After the main course, people eat Risalamande, a rice pudding with cherry or strawberry sauce, sometimes containing an almond. The person who finds the almond receives an extra gift. Traditional drinks include Gløgg (mulled wine) and special Christmas beers with high alcohol content.
In Finland, the traditional Christmas meal is called Joulupöytä, similar to the Swedish smörgåsbord. It includes many dishes, such as large Christmas ham, fish like lutefisk or gravlax, and casseroles with potatoes, rutabaga, or carrots. The traditional drink is mulled wine (glögi), which can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic.
In Germany, primary Christmas dishes include roast goose and roast carp, though suckling pig, duck, or venison may also be served. Side dishes often include roast potatoes and cabbage varieties like kale, Brussels sprouts, and red cabbage. In some regions, Christmas dinner is eaten on Christmas Day, with a simpler meal on Christmas Eve, such as sausages and potato salad. Sweets and pastries like marzipan, gingerbread (Lebkuchen), and fruitcakes are common.
In Italy, the Christmas Eve meal is called cenone, a large dinner. In the South, it is celebrated on Christmas Eve, while in the North, the main event is on Christmas Day. Christmas Eve meals usually avoid meat. In the South, a popular dish is female eel (capitone), while in the North, capon (gelded chicken) is traditional. Christmas Day meals often include pasta, meat dishes, cheese, and sweets like pandoro, panettone, torrone, and others.
Panettone, originally from Milan, is a sweet bread enjoyed during Christmas and New Year in many countries. It is served in wedges with hot drinks or sweet wines like Asti or Moscato d'Asti. In some Italian regions, it is eaten with crema al mascarpone, a cream made from eggs, mascarpone, and sweet liqueur.
Pandoro is an Italian sweet bread, popular around Christmas and New Year. Traditionally made in Verona, it has an eight-pointed shape and is dusted with vanilla-scented icing sugar. The first recorded mention of pandoro dates to the 18th century.
In Norway, traditional Christmas meals vary by region. In the east, pork is common, while in the west, lamb and fish are preferred. Turkey is a modern addition linked to immigration in the early 1900s. A 2021 survey showed that 49% of Norwegians eat pork ribs or steak, 35% eat pinnekjøtt (lamb ribs), 7% eat cod or lutefisk, 7% eat turkey, and others choose vegetarian meals, rice porridge, or frozen pizza.
In Portugal, families gather on Christmas Eve to eat boiled dried-salted cod with boiled cabbage, potatoes, onions, eggs, and chickpeas. Olive oil is used generously. Some regions also serve turkey or bacalhau (salted cod). On December 25, octopus or pork may be eaten in certain areas.
In Spain, Christmas Eve is called "Nochebuena" and is celebrated with a large family meal in the evening, often followed by midnight mass. Gift exchanges occur mainly on Epiphany, which is on January 6.
In medieval Catalonia, Christmas meals included poultry, lamb and bacon stew, and dishes like formatge torrador (similar to provoleta).
In Sweden, the Christmas dinner, or Julbord, includes five or more courses. The first three courses feature fish like pickled herring, salmon, or lutfisk, eaten with boiled potatoes or crispbread. The fourth course includes cold cuts, and the final course often has desserts like rice pudding or meatballs.
North America
In English-speaking Canada, Christmas dinner is similar to that in Britain. Traditional meals often include turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. Christmas dinner is usually much like Thanksgiving dinner. Other foods such as different types of poultry, roast beef, or ham may also be served. Desserts often include pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcake. Eggnog, a milk-based drink sometimes mixed with alcohol, is popular during the holiday season. Other treats like Christmas cookies, butter tarts, and shortbread are baked before the holidays and shared with friends during parties and on Christmas Day.
In French-speaking Canada, traditions may resemble those in France. (See Réveillon.) Other communities in Canada may also keep traditions from their countries of origin.
Christmas traditions in the United States have many different origins. Most areas follow traditions from the United Kingdom, while others reflect influences from Europe (such as Spain, Scandinavia, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Germany) and more recent influences from Latin American and Caribbean cultures, especially in states like Florida. The main parts of the meal are usually based on British traditions: roasted root vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a main dish of stuffed roasted birds (like pheasant, goose, duck, or turkey) or roasted beef. In the South, where many people have British ancestry, Christmas often includes variations of country ham or Christmas ham, a tradition from medieval England that predates the Victorian-era preference for turkey. Cookies have been a part of American traditions for centuries and are often gingerbread, snickerdoodles, or sugar cookies shaped into various designs.
Fruitcake is sometimes seen as a humorous tradition, often given as a joke gift. Comedian Johnny Carson once said, "The worst Christmas gift is fruitcake… There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other, year after year." Some people believe this is true. For example, Manitou Springs, Colorado, holds an annual event where unwanted fruitcakes are thrown in a contest to see who can toss them the farthest. A man from Tecumseh, Michigan, once made news for keeping a fruitcake his great-grandmother baked in 1878. As of 2018, the same fruitcake was still in the care of one of his grandchildren.
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are common at Christmas parties and family gatherings. Adults often drink harder alcoholic beverages, while children usually receive soft drinks or non-alcoholic versions of their parents' drinks, like the Shirley Temple. A typical menu might include drinks such as planter's punch, Kentucky bourbon cocktails, wines from California, Washington, Virginia, or New York, Prosecco from Italy, hard cider from New England and California, wassail, Puerto Rican or Jamaican rum, champagne, and cocktails like eggnog, the poinsettia, and the Puerto Rican coquito, which includes coconut milk and rum.
West of the Mississippi River, Mexican traditions influence how meals are prepared, such as roasting corn in its husk and serving biscochitos.
Other regions have unique dishes. In Virginia, meals often include oysters, ham pie, and fluffy biscuits, a nod to its English founders. In the Upper Midwest, dishes from Scandinavian backgrounds, like lutefisk and mashed rutabaga or turnip, are common. In the Lowcountry region, rice is often served instead of potatoes, and on the Gulf Coast, shrimp and other seafood are common appetizers. Charlotte Russe, a dessert made with layers of Lady Fingers and custard, is a traditional treat, along with pumpkin and pecan pies. In some rural areas, game meats like elk or quail may be served, often prepared with recipes similar to those used by early American settlers.
In some Italian-American communities, Christmas Eve is celebrated with the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Desserts like panettone and struffoli are often enjoyed. It is common for many Jewish Americans to eat American Chinese food on Christmas, as these restaurants are often the only ones open on the holiday in many cities.
Oceania
Christmas dinner in Australia and New Zealand is often eaten during the day and is similar to traditional English meals. However, because Christmas occurs during the hot summer in the Southern Hemisphere, meats like ham, turkey, and chicken are sometimes served cold with cranberry sauce and paired with side salads or roasted vegetables. Barbecues are a common way to cook food without using the oven. Seafood such as prawns, lobster, oysters, and crayfish is often eaten, along with barbecued cuts of steak, chicken breasts, drumsticks, and wings. In summer, Australians and New Zealanders enjoy pavlova, a dessert made with fruit like strawberries, kiwifruit, and passionfruit placed on top of baked meringue with whipped cream. Trifle is also a popular dessert in Australia during Christmas. Fresh seasonal fruits include cherries, mangoes, plums, nectarines, and peaches. Panettone, a sweet bread introduced by Italian Australians, is widely available in stores, especially in Sydney and Melbourne.
South America
In Brazil, the Christmas meal is usually served on Christmas Eve and includes many types of food. Common dishes are roasted turkey, fresh vegetables, fruits, and Brazil nuts. These are served with colorful rice, platters of ham and salad, and sometimes cold potato salad. Some areas also serve roasted pork or chicken. Alcoholic drinks like red wine, white wine, and apple cider are often enjoyed. Desserts include lemon tart, nut pie, chocolate cake, and Panettone.
On Christmas Eve (Noche Buena), families gather for a meal of roasted turkey and white rice seasoned with garlic. Roasted potatoes and sweetened apple puree are also common. The main dessert is Panettone, often served with thick hot chocolate. Other desserts include marzipan made from Brazil nuts (because almonds are rare and expensive in Peru) and bowls with raisins and peanuts. At midnight, family members toast, exchange good wishes, and hug. A person places the Child Jesus figure in the Nativity scene. Then, the family sings Christmas carols while sitting in the dining room.
In Uruguay, Christmas dinner is also served on Christmas Eve. Families enjoy a large meal with traditional dishes like asado (roasted meat) and vitello tonnato, along with salads such as Olivier salad. Now, it is common to eat picada (a mix of Italian antipasto and Spanish tapas) on Christmas Eve and asado on Christmas Day. Desserts include Panettone and turrón, which were brought to Uruguay by Spanish and Italian immigrants in the 1800s and 1900s. At midnight, a toast is made with champagne or cider.