With Christmas fast approaching many are making their getaway plans or at least planning their Christmas dinner. If Brits follow last year’s trend, menu changes are on the horizon. According to reports published in 2015, there’s a new kid on the block when it comes to competing for our Christmas favours – the goose is making a comeback. Whether this is down to a very popular Radio 4 soap, or whether people just want more choice, the jury’s still out.
But one thing’s for sure – you don’t have to stick with turkey to celebrate Christmas. We’ve taken a look at Christmas eating habits across the globe and come up with a few unusual examples.
Go goat
The sunshine and beaches of the Caribbean are always tempting at any time of the year but the idea of a Christmas break in Jamaica is super tempting. While you dream of festive fun on the island, be prepared to enjoy curried goat, gungo rice and peas or baked chicken. All of these dishes are delicious, just different and not a brussel sprout in sight.
Cretan Christmas
Pork is the dish of the day here, roasted with an accompanying honey and mustard sauce and some delicious roasted potatoes.
The Christmas dish of choice varies throughout Crete, in some parts of the island you might be offered goose, in others boar is the plat du jour. The reason why pork is so popular dates back to the traditional Cretan Choirosfagia ready for the 12-day Christmas celebration. This ancient ceremony goes back to the feast of Mithras or Apollo as Saturnalia, winter solstice and Christmas dates all coincide.
Christmas day is Christmas Eve in Bulgaria
Christmas celebrations start on Christmas Eve in Bulgaria with a huge meal comprising as many as 11 dishes. Some of these will simply be a dish of walnuts others will be more substantial, including stuffed cabbage, bean soup and table groaning under the weight of sweet and gooey pastries.
Any uneaten food is left on the table overnight in case the ancestors get hungry – this has got to be the best excuse not to clear a table ever.
Tamales vs turkey in Mexico
Tamales are popular throughout Mexico the whole year around, and in southern and northern Mexico these wonderful tasty snacks also are eaten in favour of turkey on Christmas, expect to see roasted honey glazed ham on any Christmas menu as well as bacalao, a dish made from cod.
Turkey does make an appearance in some parts of Mexico, but Christmas festivities start on December 16th and can last right through until January 6th – the feast of the three kings. So you can expect to spot all kinds of local celebratory delicacies during this time.
Variety in Spain
Spanish Christmas celebrations start on Christmas Eve and continue on Christmas day. The turkey, stuffed with truffles no less, make an appearance in some parts of Spain, but you’ll also be offered a selection of delicious seafood in parts of the country close to the sea, think lobster, think luxury. Succulent suckling pig and lamb are also very popular.
The Spanish really go to town on their sweets at this time of the year and we’re not talking Christmas pudding with a lame bit of holly stuck on the top. Local exotic delights are available at shops throughout Spain and are delicious.
Follow in the footsteps of the growing number of UK consumers and try something different – book a holiday away this Christmas and discover a range of authentic delicacies to celebrate the festive season.
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