Seven countries, seven distinct Christmas feasts: Explore how different cultures celebrate the holiday with their own unique meals.

Across the globe, Christmas is marked by a rich diversity of culinary traditions, each one reflecting the customs and flavors of its people.

During the holiday season, traditional Christmas and Advent meals offer comfort, providing a sense of warmth and togetherness in what has been a challenging year for many.

While Christmas meals vary by location, the shared tradition of enjoying a hearty feast, whether on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, remains universal.

Let’s take a culinary journey through seven countries and discover how locals celebrate Christmas with food. We spoke with hospitality experts to learn about these holiday traditions and their personal experiences with festive meals.

France

In France, the festive meal typically begins on the evening of December 24th, with renowned pastry chef François Payard, originally from Nice, highlighting the lavish spread.

Dinner usually starts around 8 p.m., with the first course featuring luxurious seafood options like lobster thermidor—lobster baked in mustard, egg yolks, and brandy—or shrimp scampi.

The next course features a succulent capon, a tender male chicken, paired with a variety of sides like creamy mashed potatoes and chestnuts sautéed in butter and topped with sage. 'Chestnuts are a must-have at Christmas for us,' says Payard.

For dessert, the grand finale is a bûche de Noël, the French Christmas cake, often served in two varieties: one chocolate and one chestnut. Paired with the meal, the finest Burgundy red wine, carefully chosen to complement the capon, is enjoyed.

On Christmas Day, the French indulge in a rich brunch, featuring creamy scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and toast. The meal ends with a selection of cheeses like Brie, Gruyère, and Munster, according to Payard.

Italy

Much like France, Italians celebrate Christmas with their grandest feast on Christmas Eve. Luca Finardi, General Manager of the Mandarin Oriental Milan, explains that locals typically attend Midnight Mass, followed by a lavish meal before heading to church.

The meal often begins with appetizers such as smoked salmon paired with buttered crostini or salted smoked cod. In coastal regions like the Amalfi Coast, a crudo dish like sea bass with fresh herbs and sea salt is a popular starter, says Finardi.

The next course is tortellini in brodo, a dish of stuffed pasta served in a flavorful broth of chicken and Parmesan, with the cheese sourced from its traditional region in Italy.

For the main course, northern Italians typically enjoy a stuffed turkey, while those from coastal areas may opt for a large, roasted sea bass served with a side of golden roasted potatoes and vegetables.

According to Finardi, no Christmas in Italy is complete without panettone, a traditional sweet bread. 'The key is to warm it up for just a few minutes.' Paired with spumante, a sparkling wine, it's the perfect way to celebrate.

The renowned Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian Christmas tradition, but Finardi notes that it is mostly celebrated in the Campania region, which includes the Amalfi Coast and Naples.

For many Italians, Christmas Day is more about spending time with family than indulging in food. 'We typically eat leftovers and take it easy after the big meal from the night before,' says Finardi.

England

In England, Christmas Eve is reserved for family cooking and enjoying a pint at the local pub, rather than indulging in a large holiday meal. 'The 24th is for relaxing with loved ones,' says Nicola Butler, owner of the luxury travel company NoteWorthy in London.

The real celebration begins on Christmas morning with a glass of champagne and a breakfast of smoked salmon and mince pies, according to Butler. After the Queen's annual Christmas speech, it's time to sit down to the festive feast.

The traditional Christmas dinner features turkey or roast beef, accompanied by a variety of sides like roasted parsnips, carrots, buttered peas, and Brussels sprouts. Some families also serve Yorkshire pudding, a savory dish made from flour, eggs, milk, and meat drippings.

For dessert, it's Christmas pudding— a rich, dense cake made with dried fruits, spices, and a generous splash of brandy. 'We enjoy plenty of wine to complement the meal,' says Butler.

Greece

According to Maria Loi, the renowned celebrity Greek chef, Christmas celebrations in Greece typically begin on Christmas Eve around 7 p.m.

'Families gather around the fireplace to enjoy a special wheat bread made only for Christmas,' says Loi. 'In some homes, pork sausages are also served. This is a rare occurrence, as pork isn't commonly used in Greek cuisine.'

After attending an early morning Christmas Day communion, Greeks head home for a day-long feast, according to Loi.

The meal begins with homemade honey cookies topped with walnuts or almonds, followed by a comforting chicken soup with orzo. A few hours later, it’s time for either a roast chicken stuffed with chestnuts or various grilled or braised pork dishes. Sides include sautéed wild greens, shredded romaine with scallions and feta cheese, and roasted lemon potatoes.

Dessert is light, often consisting of baked apples with honey and walnuts or Greek yogurt drizzled with honey. To drink, Loi mentions that Greeks typically enjoy a glass of red wine.

Mexico

In Mexico, Christmas celebrations kick off on December 24, as explained by Pablo Carmona and Josh Kremer, co-founders of Paradero Hotels.

'Families begin by breaking a piñata filled with a variety of locally made candies in chili and tamarind flavors,' says Kremer. Dinner usually begins between 7 and 10 p.m.

The meal often starts with posole, a hearty stew made with large corn kernels and either pork or beef, accompanied by an array of up to 20 condiments like parsley, cilantro, chiles, and various cheeses.

In a nod to American influence, the main dish for Carmona and Kremer is turkey, served with classic sides such as mashed potatoes and green beans.

The meal typically ends with a sweet, creamy flan served with fresh strawberries and cream. And no feast is complete without sipping on tequilas and mezcals alongside the food.

On Christmas Day, many Mexicans simply reheat leftovers from the previous night's meal. 'We’re tired, so we prefer not to cook,' says Carmona.

Costa Rica

Many Costa Ricans celebrate Christmas with a festive, late-night celebration. Leo Ghitis, owner of Nayara Hotels in the northern highlands, explains, 'We attend midnight Mass, then return home to enjoy a massive meal around 2 a.m.'

The feast begins with homemade tamales filled with chicken, pork, or vegetables and cheese. Following that, the national dish, arroz con pollo, takes center stage. It’s a flavorful rice dish made with green beans, peas, carrots, saffron, cilantro, and a whole chicken.

The third course features a variety of grilled meats. Coastal Costa Ricans enjoy seafood like marlin, tuna, mahi mahi, shrimp, and lobster, while those inland savor beef, pork, and chicken. The side dishes are the same for all: rice with black beans, boiled palm fruit with sour cream, and a hearts of palm salad with avocado.

For dessert, Costa Ricans typically indulge in coconut flan and arroz con leche, a sweet rice dish made with milk, sugar, and cinnamon.

'We finish the night with plenty of rum punch and eggnog, and don’t call it a night until 4 or 5 a.m.,' says Ghitis.

Christmas Day in the Bahamas is all about finishing up leftovers and heading outdoors for lively street parties, according to Vonya Ifill, director of talent and culture at Rosewood Baha Mar.

Bahamas

For Bahamians, Christmas Day is the true culinary celebration, says Vonya Ifill, director of talent and culture at Rosewood Baha Mar.

Locals enjoy a grand dinner featuring turkey, ham, macaroni and cheese, peas and rice cooked with coconut milk, and a side of potato salad.

In the evening, we have this feast and later celebrate Boxing Day with a Junkanoo Festival at midnight. After hours of dancing and parading into the early morning, we wrap up the festivities with a hearty boiled fish or fish stew.

The seafood is always paired with potato bread or Johnny Cake, a traditional cornmeal flatbread.