Global Christmas Food Traditions: From Seven Fishes to KFC

Christmas culinary traditions vary significantly across the globe. Let's explore three distinct ways people celebrate the festive season through food.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes: An Italian-American Tradition

Italian-American families often observe Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes. This tradition, rooted in Southern Italy, involves abstaining from meat and enjoying a diverse array of seafood dishes. Each dish holds symbolic meaning, connecting families to their heritage and the spirit of the season. From simple salted cod (baccalà) to elaborate seafood pasta (frutti di mare), the variety of flavors and stories makes this feast unique.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian American Christmas tradition.

Fish is featured on the table as part of the Christmas Eve tradition known as the "Feast of the Seven Fishes."

This tradition is more than just a meal; it represents a connection to family history and the richness of Italian-American culture.

Simbang Gabi: A Filipino Pre-Dawn Celebration

In the Philippines, the Christmas season is marked by Simbang Gabi, a nine-day series of pre-dawn masses. This tradition emphasizes community and hopeful anticipation of Christmas. A popular dish enjoyed during Simbang Gabi is arroz caldo, a warm and comforting rice and chicken porridge infused with fragrant spices.

Arroz caldo provides warmth and sustenance during the early morning gatherings.

Kentucky for Christmas: A Unique Japanese Tradition

A surprising Christmas tradition has taken root in Japan: enjoying KFC. While a small percentage of the Japanese population identifies as Christian, Christmas is widely celebrated as a secular holiday. KFC capitalized on this with a successful marketing campaign in the 1970s, promoting fried chicken as a festive meal. Now, pre-ordering KFC for Christmas is a common practice, with Colonel Sanders statues donning Santa hats and December 24th being the busiest day of the year for KFC in Japan.

KFC's "Kentucky for Christmas" campaign has become a cultural phenomenon in Japan.

These three examples highlight the diverse and fascinating ways cultures around the world celebrate Christmas through food.