Winter Food Traditions Around the Globe

The holidays are a time to gather with friends and family around tables adorned with bounties of treats. Most often, the foods on our table are the same selections from the generations before us. This holiday season we’ve highlighted a few cultural traditions, and the history behind them, to help inspire some new holiday menus.

NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA

TAMALES from Mexico. An important tradition in Mexican culture, Las Posadas, meaning “inn” or “shelter”, are the 9 days before Christmas representing the time when Joseph and Mary searched for a place to stay in time for the birth of baby Jesus. Mexicans make a “pilgrimage” going from door to door until they arrive at the host's home when they are let in to enjoy a meal. Tamales are typically on the menu.

EGG NOG from the United States. Egg nog has been used to toast to good health and prosperity for years during the holiday season and has 13^th-century English roots. It is said that Americans began drinking egg nog when the States were still colonies since the land was full of farms. Egg nog is typically made with milk, cream, sugar, whipped egg whites, egg yolks, and nutmeg.

SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE from Peru. Churches throughout the country take donations to make massive quantities of this spiced drink during Christmastime and serve it to the less fortunate during the month of December.

EUROPE

LATKES from Israel. Often prepared during Hanukkah, latkes are shredded potato cakes that are fried until golden and crispy. They are typically topped with applesauce and are meant to symbolize the miracle of Hanukkah – when the menorah in the Second Temple of Jerusalem was able to stay lit for eight days, though there was only enough oil to last for one.

Check out our twist on latkes with Parsnip, Celery Root Latkes.

SEAFOOD from Italy. Traditionally, Roman Catholics had abstained from meat and dairy on the eve of a major holiday. Meat was replaced with seafood to celebrate the region’s plentiful bounty. In the early 1900s the Feast of the Seven Fishes was born as Italian Americans looked to connect with their roots. The number 7 was chosen as it is connected to many Catholic symbols in the bible.

SAFFRON BUNS from Sweden. December 13 marks the official start of the Christmas season in Sweden, and citizens celebrate St. Lucia’s Day. Tradition says that the oldest daughter of the family should dress in a white gown tied with a red sash and a crown of lit candles, and then wake her parents with coffee and a tray of saffron buns.

ASIA AND AFRICA

YEBEG WOT from Ethiopia. Similar to the country’s national dish, doro wat – yebeg wot is a lamb stew generally served during the holiday season. To prepare for the meal, farmers feed lambs a higher-calorie diet which leads to fatty, tender meat. The lamb is then combined with onions, tomatoes, garlic, kibbeh (Ethiopian butter), and spices to create the stew.

BIBINGKA from the Philippines. A common breakfast during the holiday season, bibingka is made of rice flour or sticky rice, coconut milk, sugar, and water, wrapped and cooked in banana leaves. It’s usually enjoyed after Simbang Gabi, a nine-day series of Filipino Catholic masses that are held during the weeks before Christmas.

KIMCHI AND DDUK GOOK from Korea. Kimchi is on the table year-round in most Korean households, but especially during the holidays. The New Year, or Soll, is one of the biggest celebrations in Korea. The kimchi made during this time of year is with a modern twist, including cucumbers or turnips. When served with dduk gook (rice cake soup), it’s the perfect Korean holiday meal.

If you love kimchi, don't skip our Soba Noodle, Kimchi, Cucumber Salad.

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At FLIK Hospitality Group we believe in great food, great service, and great people. Our wellness first approach ensures our food supports healthy and delicious choices, specially curated by our team of culinary experts and registered dietitians. At FLIK, we believe in seasonality in sourcing our ingredients and providing a customized approach to the culinary and hospitality needs of each client. Our dedication to providing quality hospitality service is unparalleled in the industry.

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