Christmas: Culinary Traditions from Around the World
Chaque pays célèbre Christmas à sa façon, et les traditions culinaires diffèrent également. Par exemple, en Allemagne, le traditionnel Stollen, ce délicieux pain aux fruits secs et confits, farci de pâte d’amande, est servi depuis plus de 500 ans. En Belgique, la choucoutre est à l’honneur. Toutefois, pour que soit respectée la tradition, une pièce de monnaie doit être glissée sous l’assiette.
Dried fruit soup and Seventh Heaven cakes are on the Spanish menu. In Italy, the dish is Panettone, a soft Italian cake. Salmon, whitefish, fish roe, and hake are served in Finland, while in Norway, it's lutefisk. This dish consists of boiled cod with potatoes, bacon, split pea puree, and goat cheese. Boiled cod is also a Christmas Eve meal served in Portugal.
The Greeks, for their part, enjoy a Saint Basil's cake. A gold coin slipped inside signifies joy and prosperity for the coming year. Provençal Christmas is celebrated with a hearty meal, consisting of seven courses and 13 desserts. In Sweden, people drink Glögg, a spiced wine, which is served with gingerbread. The Swiss menu varies from canton to canton. It might be the Biscôme on December 6, the honey cake from Appenzell, or a treat purchased at the Montreux Christmas market.
In the United States, a tradition dating back more than two centuries, President's cake is enjoyed by both residents and the President himself. In Mexico, a chocolate turkey takes pride of place on the table, while in Quebec, the traditional tourtière serves as the main course.
