Christmas goodies from around the world
Dee Williams tastes numerous culinary treats during the festive season

As the year draws to a close, Christmas and New Year’s celebrations light up homes and hearts around the world. And food, which is central to these festivities, reflects diverse cultural traditions and ingredients.
So let’s check out some of the iconic dishes served during the festive season in different countries.
A true highlight of the season is the famous Sri Lankan Christmas cake. A descendant of the traditional British fruitcake, this dense dark treat is filled with a variety of dried fruits, nuts, spices and a hint of brandy or rum for added richness.
The cake is made weeks in advance to allow the flavours to blend beautifully over time. Unlike the typical Western fruitcake, the Sri Lankan version has a distinctively tropical twist thanks to ingredients such as candied peel and ginger preserve.
In the UK, a traditional Christmas feast revolves around roast turkey or goose, served with sides such as roasted potatoes, brussels sprouts and stuffing.

One of the stars of the season is the rich and boozy Christmas pudding, which is a dense dessert made with dried fruits, suet and spices that have often been soaked in brandy. Before serving, the pudding is set aflame for a spectacular display.
Christmas in Italy is a multi day feast with diverse regional variations. One of the highlights is panettone – a sweet, tall and fluffy bread studded with raisins and candied citrus peel.
On Christmas Eve, some Italians living in the southern regions partake in the Feast of the Seven Fishes. This meal features a variety of seafood dishes such as fried calamari, baccalà (salted cod) and spaghetti alle vongole (with clams).
A festive bread that finds its way onto Christmas tables is breudher. This Dutch influenced yeast-based cake has a slightly dense texture and hint of sweetness. Traditionally served with butter and cheese, breudher is a breakfast staple on Christmas mornings in many Sri Lankan households.
In France, Christmas is an elegant affair featuring gourmet delicacies. Foie gras, which is a dish made from duck or goose liver, often graces Christmas tables.
For dessert, families enjoy the famous bûche de Noël (Yule log). This is a cake that’s rolled and decorated to resemble a log, symbolising the warmth of the hearth. It’s usually made with sponge cake and filled with chocolate, cream or coffee flavoured buttercream.


On Christmas Eve, Polish families gather for Wigilia and enjoy a 12 course meal – with each dish representing one of the apostles.
The meal, which typically begins when the first star appears in the sky, consists of dishes such as pierogi (dumplings stuffed with potatoes, cheese or mushrooms), barszcz (borscht or sour soup) and carp. Christmas in Poland is a time for reflection with an empty place setting left for unexpected guests or deceased family members.
Christmas and New Year’s celebrations bring joy, warmth and unity, and food plays a vital role in different traditions.
Whether it’s the sweet indulgence of France’s bûche de Noël, the savoury richness of Polish pierogi or the iconic British Christmas pudding, each dish tells a story of history, culture and the spirit of togetherness.
So wherever you are in the world, festive food is a delicious reminder of the shared joy and hope that the season brings.