One of the best parts of the festive season is its traditions, from the opening of advent calendars to hanging up stockings for Santa or kissing under the mistletoe. And there are few traditions more beloved than those associated with food and drink: now’s the time our fridges fill with jars of cranberry sauce, our cupboards fill with mince pies, or we buy all those fancy cheeses for nighttime snacks. These days, we may be less likely to have “chestnuts roasting on the open fire”, or hear cries of “we all want figgy pudding”, but there are still some culinary treats that have stood the test of time…
Turkey dinners
The Victorians knew how to enjoy their food – at least, the wealthy ones did – and we have them to thank for our traditional turkey dinner. Turkeys had been eaten for festive dinners from the mid-16th century, but it was the British royal family who first had the traditional turkey at the centrepiece of their Christmas table, in 1851. Nowadays, with an increasing shift to vegetarian and vegan diets, the ‘nut roast’ and other plant-based options are coming to the table but there is no danger – yet – of them overtaking the nation’s favourite bird: around 10 million turkeys are consumed each festive period.
Mulled wine
It is impossible to visit a Christmas market without inhaling the unmistakable aroma of mulled wine. Made with red wine, fruits and spices, it is a hot drink popular across many European countries, and although there are minor differences in ingredients, the difference between them lies mainly in the heating temperatures and infusion times. In Scandinavian countries it is known as ‘glögg’, and in Germany it is known as ‘glühwein’ – or kinderpunsch for children! – though the Germans also have a version called ‘feuerzangenbowle’, where a sugarloaf is set alight and allowed to drip into the hot drink. It rose to fame in the Victorian era, and even had a mention in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Plum pudding
Plum pudding is more likely to be called Christmas pudding these days and does not actually contain any plums at all. It is unknown exactly when it originated, with some claiming it began in medieval England and other sources suggesting it started to become more widespread in the 17th century. It is generally made with various dried fruits, suet, flour, eggs and warming spices, but there are now many variations, with some recipes passed down through generations of families. At one time, it was traditional to drop a sixpence into the mix before baking, and whoever found it while eating – hopefully without breaking their teeth on it – could expect to find wealth in the following year.
Eggnog
Eggnog is essentially a milk punch combining milk with cream, sugar, eggs, nutmeg or cinnamon and occasionally a splash of something stronger. It is believed to have originated from a medieval British drink called posset, which was hot milk curdled with wine or ale, but is nowadays particularly popular in North America during the holiday season, thanks in part to the British bringing it to the colonies in the 18th century. However there are variations across the world; Cuba’s ‘crema de vie’ is an even sweeter version using evaporated milk, Venezuela has the ‘ponche crema’, which may also include lemon rind, and Italy’s version is served hot with whipped cream as the ‘bombardino’ (or, ‘little bomb’). The USA’s first president, George Washington, even invented his own version – but be warned, his recipe is not for the faint of heart…
Snowball
Anyone born before 1985 may remember these classic cocktails. Invented in the 1940s, a true snowball is made by combining sugar, brandy, vanilla and egg yolks with lemonade and a twist of lime juice, though when they reached their peak in popularity in the 1970s people were more likely to skip the brandy and lime and make them with ready-made liqueurs. Either way, the result is a sweet, sickly, slightly frothy cocktail guaranteed to make Granny a bit giddy. If you’re an adult who missed them the first time round, never fear – according to reports, they’re making a bit of a comeback this year. Maraschino cherries at the ready!
Chocolate coins
Whether you’re a child – or just a child at heart – who doesn’t love to find a bag of gold chocolate coins in their stocking on Christmas morning? These treats are inspired by stories of Saint Nicholas in the 4th century, though the chocolate aspect came much later. According to legend, Saint Nicholas used to toss gold coins through the windows, down the chimneys – even into the stockings hung up to dry – of those in need. They are not just part of tradition here either; Jewish children have been receiving chocolate coins (called ‘gelt’) during the Hanukkah festival since the 17th century.
Good Housekeeping ranks 27 festive foods from best to worst. Find your favourites (or worst nightmares!).
