Christmas on the Plate
Around the globe, Christmas is celebrated with an astonishing variety of culinary traditions. In Germany, Christmas Eve is often kept deliberately simple: for many families, sausages with potato salad are an unquestioned classic. In Italy, many households focus on fish on 24 December, as meat is traditionally avoided during the long-standing Feast of the Seven Fishes.
A rather unusual yet firmly established tradition can be found in Japan, where many people enjoy KFC for Christmas dinner. This custom dates back to a successful marketing campaign in the 1970s, when turkey was scarcely available in the country. In the United States, by contrast, turkey or ham is commonly served, accompanied by an abundance of side dishes and desserts.
In Mexico, tamales are a festive staple—filled parcels of corn dough that take time to prepare and are often made together as a family. Sweden celebrates with the Julbord, a generous buffet featuring herring, meatballs, and many other specialties. In Ethiopia, Christmas is traditionally observed only after a long period of fasting, with injera and richly spiced stews taking center stage.
Despite all these differences, Christmas everywhere is ultimately about togetherness.
We wish you a joyful Christmas filled with good conversations, special moments, and a plate full of your favorite foods—no matter which tradition they come from.
Quiz Question
Which unusual Christmas tradition originated from a marketing campaign in the 1970s?
N: Fish dishes during Italy’s Feast of the Seven Fishes
R: Celebrating Christmas with KFC in Japan
T: The Julbord buffet in Sweden
Here you can find the solution sheet to print or fill in directly on your computer. Simply enter the letter of the correct answer in the field of today’s calendar window. Good luck! Advent calendar solution sheet.pdf
Have you cracked the code? Then send us your solution words by email to marketing.ip@kautex.com and look forward to a nice surprise!
