While some people take it easy on Christmas Eve with potato salad and sausages, other German households go all out with multi-course meals and matching wines. Either way, Christmas dinner usually has a long tradition within a family. But what does it actually look like in our neighboring countries? What do the French, Italians, Irish, Danes and Poles eat?
Christmas dinner in Italian
If you think of pizza and pasta when you think of Italian food, you're pretty far off the mark - especially at Christmas. In Italy, fish is the main dish eaten on December 24th, in all its variations. On Christmas Day, there is a sumptuous meal that starts with a minestrone. Chicken, lamb and fine sausages are then served. Italians prefer to drink strong red wine, Prosecco and coffee with this. Afterwards, a limoncello is a welcome toast.
Christmas à la France
The French love exquisite cuisine - and Christmas is no different. They celebrate and dine on the evening of December 24th. In addition to oysters and pâtés, "Dinde aux Marons", a turkey stuffed with chestnuts, is served. For dessert, the French love the "Buche de Noel", a traditional Christmas cake with buttercream.
Danish Christmas
Christmas dinner in Denmark takes place on December 24th. Traditional dishes here include duck, turkey, goose or roast pork with red cabbage and brown potatoes. The "ris á làmande", a rice porridge with an almond hidden inside, rounds off the menu. The purpose of the almond is to bring good luck in the coming year.
Things are hearty at Christmas in Poland
It's no secret that Polish cuisine is relatively hearty. This is of course also the case at Christmas. Christmas dinner in Poland starts with beet or mushroom soup. This is followed by breaded carp, herring in oil or cream, stuffed dumplings, pierogi, sauerkraut, with or without peas, and pastries with poppy seeds, honey, almonds, raisins and nuts. For dessert, the Poles serve cake (poppy seed, cheese or gingerbread) and/or dried fruit.
Spanish Christmas meal
Stuffed turkey is also served at Christmas in Spain. But fish and shellfish also play an important role. Almond and walnut soups and marzipan are sweet.