Here we are. There are only a few days until Christmas. Many of us have dinner preparations already bought and defrosting. Here in the good old U. S. of A., a traditional Christmas dinner is bound to include a turkey or ham, dressing, potatoes, green vegetable, and desserts as far as the eye can see.
However, we are not the only country to celebrate Christmas. Christmas is a pretty global thing for the most part, but there are variations in the celebration in almost every country. One of the largest ways we differ is through what we choose to decorate our tables with at dinner time. Below are three countries with very different Christmas dinners.
Poland
Christmas is a holiday honored by the majority of the Christian religion. Though the birth of Christ is the centerpiece of the holiday, each country has its own way of throwing Him a birthday party. In Poland, the Christmas holiday begins on the eve before.
During the day, families across the country fast. When the sun goes down, the feast begins, but you won’t find turkey and dressing here. As the table is set and the empty seat is added for the possible Christmas wanderer, 12 dishes descend upon the dinner table. One to represent each of the twelve disciples.
For the main dish, you are likely to enjoy fried carp. Alongside, you might get the opportunity to try some borscht, which is a beetroot soup with dumplings. For dessert, homemade and hand decorated cookies.
England
Christmas dinner in England actually closely mimics the holidays here at home, now. It differs occasionally in the fact that a goose will don the dinner table in some homes in the place of a turkey or ham.
However, there was a time, not so long ago, that a traditional English Christmas dinner showcased a pig’s head in mustard. To each their own. Many constituents of the English community are grateful for the change in menu.
These days, dinner is befriended with brussels sprouts, roasted potatoes, and cranberry sauce among other things. For dessert? How about some delicious Christmas Cake or Mince Pie?
Botswana
The majority of Botswana is a Christian nation and as such, they celebrate the birth of Christ much like the rest of the world. Church services on Christmas Day, singing carols on Christmas Eve, and the giving of gifts is a natural holiday procession.
Be that as it may, if you sit down for Christmas dinner in Botswana, you may notice a few differences in the menu. The usual dinner will include rice, salads, and fried chicken. This might sound like a nice Sunday afternoon dinner in the south, but in Botswana, it heralds the coming of the King of kings.
Christmas dinner is an awesome time for family and friends to get together and celebrate the birth of the King. If you choose to celebrate out of the country, enjoy experiencing the different flavors of Christmas.
Originally posted on January 3, 2018 @ 7:26 pm
