CHRISTMAS TIME!

Christmas dining is defined as the set of eating habits made at Christmas time. It usually corresponds to countries with influence on Catholic religion.

It is mainly characterized by family gathering habits, and in most cases linked in with the culinary traditions of each country.

The main feature that encompasses all gastronomies is the use of sweet food, usually mixed with ground grain, crackers, cakes, etc.

Other common denominator is the marzipan. Another important feature is the use of nuts and dried fruits.

SPAIN

In Spain, the traditional Christmas food is usually modest and poor and it is based on meals with plenty of sweets. Today, these customs have changed and family meals are often abundant.

There are three meals in the Spanish culinary celebration of Christmas, and they are: Christmas Eve (dinner), New Year’s Eve (dinner) and The Three Wise Men’s day (lunch). In many occasions the family is together also on Christmas’ Day and New Year’s Day (for lunch).

It is characterized by all Christian traditions. Notable nougat (mainly traditional soft nougat and nougat from Jijona or Alicante), “polvorones”, dates, marzipan (in all varieties such as figurines, Gloria’s cake or Cadiz bread), sugared almonds (very famous in Casinos, Valencia), “alfajores” or almond soup (very common in Madrid) among other sweets.

It also very common to eat dishes such as suckling pig, poularde, turkey, lamb, sea bream or shrimp and other seafood.

On 31 December is a tradition to eat twelve grapes at the rate of twelve strokes, one in the New Year is very common to toast with champagne.

The first of  January, in the morning, people usually eat “chocolate with churros” at home with the family.

On January 6 (Epiphany), usually it is eaten the traditional “Roscón de Reyes”.

UNITED KINGDOM

In the United Kingdom  is present the famous Christmas Pudding (it is a pudding made with plums). It is also traditional to stir the Christmas pudding, a traditional dessert. The mixture should be stirred on the first Sunday of Advent for each family member in an east-west to commemorate the visit of the Three Wise Men to Jesus, while you make a wish in secret.

Often it is made gingerbread cookies and various cakes with brandy butter, the trifle, the Christmas cake, the Yule Log, etc.

The Anglo-Saxon tradition marks the use of roasted turkey that is popular as well as widespread in all countries of the Commonwealth. 

Since the Middle Ages, English made called “​​mummings”, which are representations involving masked people. These works are traditional in schools and churches in small towns. 

Another customs is to hang mistletoe at the top. According to tradition, couples who stand under the mistletoe must give a kiss.

On December 26th is known as “Boxing Day”. That day charity boxes of the parishes are opened and its contents is distributed to poor families.

By María José Gómez