Weird Christmas dishes and traditions

Christmas in Japan is celebrated with KFC chicken

Many people associate Christmas with special family meals, warmth and timeless traditions. For some, herring, ham and poppy seeds are the most common dishes on the festive table. Other countries, however, have their own Christmas traditions that are not only surprising but sometimes even puzzling for their exotic nature.

So here are some of the special Christmas dishes from around the world. These dishes are a good example of how differently people celebrate this special winter holiday.

In Japan, Christmas is not a traditional religious holiday, but since the 1970s, it has become a popular day celebrated in a Western style. In this country, Christmas is often a day when the festive table is set... chicken from KFC, a fast-food chain that's perhaps the most famous in many countries. This unusual tradition began with the "Kentucky is Christmas!" advertising campaign, which caught people's attention so much that KFC's food became a true holiday symbol^[1].

Japanese Christmas with KFC chicken looks particularly appealing for those who want to avoid long cooking times. KFC's festive menu, which includes chicken nuggets, prawns in a thick sauce and chocolate cake, must be booked in advance - as early as November. Despite this, queues at KFC restaurants are still huge at Christmas. So Japanese people who avoid working in the kitchen still have to make up for it by standing in long queues, even outside.

Norway's smalahove - a sheep's head on the festive table

In Norway, one of the traditional Christmas dishes is called smalahove. This is a salted and boiled sheep's head. Although considered a delicacy, this dish may come as quite a shock to tourists. Smalahove is traditionally prepared for Christmas or on Christmas Eve, which requires a lot of time and patience.

The head is first cut in half, the brain is removed (in some regions, it is still left in), and the remaining head is soaked in water, salted, dried, and finally boiled for up to three hours.

This dish is traditionally served with mashed potatoes and turnips. The meal starts with the eyes and ears, which are considered delicate, and then moves on to the other parts.

The history of Smalahove is not well known, but the dish is linked to the poor everyday life of Norwegian villages, where every part of the animal was used for food. It has also been speculated that the wealthy part of the Norwegian population enjoyed the tasty parts of the sheep, while only the head and other inferior parts were left for the poor. Today, however, the dish is more often served as an exotic attraction and is considered a delicacy by Norwegians^[2].

Giant caterpillars from South Africa

In South Africa, Christmas is often served... Mopane butterfly caterpillars. These large caterpillars, found in the leaves of balsam trees, are popular for their unique texture and nutritional value.

The caterpillars are dried, roasted or boiled until crisp. They are then served as an appetizer or as part of a main course.

The tradition of eating caterpillars in Mopane is due to the seasonality, as these insects reach their maturity at Christmas, making them easy to collect. Although it may seem strange to many, for South Africans, it is not only a tradition but also a major source of protein, which helps to conserve natural resources.

Fermented herring - a Swedish delicacy

In Sweden, some families serve surströmming - fermented herring - during the holidays. This fish is fermented in barrels for several months and then preserved in tins, where the fermentation continues^[3].

When the can is opened, a strong smell is emitted, which many may find repulsive as it reminds them of rotting fish. Nevertheless, this dish has a loyal following and is eaten with bread, potatoes and onions.

Greenlandic delicacies - whale skin and seal-aged poultry

In the cold lands of Greenland, Christmas is celebrated with what nature has to offer in extreme conditions. Exotic dishes from this region include muktuk and kiviak.

Muktuk are pieces of whale skin and blubber frozen hard before being eaten raw. Muktuk is usually seasoned with salt or bread. It is a traditional Inuit food that provides energy for people used to braving extreme cold.

Kiviak is an even stranger dish with seal carcasses and small Arctic birds. With all their feathers, the birds are placed in the body of a dead seal and then buried in the ground to ferment for several months.

After this process, which takes 3-8 months, the dish is removed, the feathers are removed and the rest is eaten raw. Traditionally, these birds are even eaten with all the bones. It is one of the world's strangest and most complex traditional Christmas dishes.

Christmas in Australia is not traditional without a barbecue and a warm evening on the beach

In Australia, Christmas coincides with a hot summer, so the atmosphere is dictated by the sun, beaches and outdoor barbecues.

Instead of traditional hot meals, locals opt for barbecues and seafood parties featuring shrimp, lobster, and other seafood delicacies. Cold-smoked meats such as ham are also often served.

One of the main desserts that makes Christmas in Australia unthinkable is the pavlova, a moringa cake with a crisp exterior hiding a soft and creamy interior. It is decorated with fresh berries and fruits, perfectly reflecting the spirit of a warm Christmas.