New Year's dishes in different countries. What do they eat for the New Year in other countries

06.08.2019 Dishes for children

This article will focus on national dishes on the New Year's and Christmas festive table. But first, a little introduction about whether in all countries of the world it is customary to celebrate the New Year.

January 1 - Gregorian New Year begins. But on the world map there are countries in which the New Year comes at a completely different time. Or, this date is not assigned the status of a holiday and a day off. Which countries do not celebrate the New Year?

For example, Muslim countries do not celebrate the New Year, since the celebration of the change of dates is alien to Islam in principle. Muslims can go to a restaurant or a home dinner on this day at the invitation of friends, but rather out of respect.

Some of the countries living according to the Persian calendar celebrate the New Year - Navruz - on March 22. For example, Iran, Afghanistan. And on this occasion, specific national dishes are prepared.

In some countries with Persian cultural heritage, both holidays are celebrated (January 1 and March 22), but they are given different meanings. For example, in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Albania and Macedonia.

In Israel, the New Year - Rosh Hashanah - is celebrated according to the Jewish calendar and it happens in the fall. And on January 1, only people from the former USSR celebrate the new year.

In Asian countries, rich in their national holidays and rituals, there is an even attitude towards January 1. For example, in South Korea, January 1 is a day off, but you should not expect magnificent celebrations, they will occur later - on the day of the Korean New Year - Seollal, which is set according to the lunar calendar.

A similar story is in China. There are no noisy festivals and folk festivals on January 1. And the Chinese New Year (Chunjie), which falls on the period from January 21 to February 21, is already celebrated on a grand scale, with fireworks, processions and a traditional family dinner.

It is no secret that in the Catholic part of Europe and America, more importance is attached to Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25, and all the main efforts and holiday preparations are directed towards this holiday. New Year is celebrated more modestly and in the format of parties with friends.

And in countries located on the territory of the post-Soviet space and professing Orthodoxy, the New Year is celebrated before Orthodox Christmas (January 7), and, as a rule, on New Year's Eve, from December 31 to January 1, more magnificent feasts are organized. This has happened since the times of the Soviet Union, when the authorities prohibited religious holidays and people began to celebrate the New Year on a large scale.

It is a wonderful tradition for the whole family to gather at the festive table! New Year's festive table - as one of the symbols of the holiday. Some countries have developed their own superstitions about what should be put on the table in order to attract happiness, prosperity, good luck in the coming year, and which dishes are best avoided. Some traditional recipes have not changed for centuries!

Let's go with you on a gastronomic journey around the countries and see what dishes are present on the Christmas and New Year tables in the countries celebrating these holidays!

What do they eat for New Year and Christmas in different countries?

Italy

Christmas is the most important and anticipated holiday of the year in the Catholic part of Europe! But, probably, the strongest emotions and adherence to traditions are in Italy, where almost the entire population professes the Catholic faith. In addition, it is on the territory of Italy that the Vatican is located, where the Pope of Rome celebrates Mass.


Snack stars

After Christmas Mass, Italians gather at home for.

In each region and family, there is a certain established order. Someone cooks a lenten eve dinner, and the next day has a sumptuous gala dinner. For someone, one smoothly flows into the second. As a rule, they cook on a lean table (eel or cod) with spaghetti. For the gala dinner, the hostesses offer and, or cold cuts, sausages, tortellini (Italian dumplings) in broth.

For dessert - Italian pies: panettone (cake with dried fruits, reminiscent of Easter cake) and pandoro ("golden bread"), e, as well as dried fruits and nuts.


Traditional Italian biscuits - Biscotti

But it is not customary to treat apples, as they symbolize original sin.

Christmas festivities smoothly flow into New Year's. Italy is a country of fun, so New Year is celebrated here noisily and cheerfully.

The same Italian dishes are present on the New Year's table. Traditional fish and seafood. It is believed that fish caviar eaten on New Year's Eve will bring wealth.

Pork dishes are required: pork legs and sausage - which symbolize forward movement. But chicken dishes are avoided.

Also, nuts, lentils and - as a symbol of health and longevity are placed on the table.

There is also a place for traditional holiday baked goods on the New Year's table.

The glass for the New Year is raised not with champagne, but with Italian wine!

England

For the British, Christmas is a family holiday with many traditions and customs. It is believed that as you celebrate Christmas, you will spend the next year, so everyone is trying to have fun from the heart and set a rich table.


As a side dish - baked vegetables or potatoes. Favorite sauces - and sauce from.

For dessert you will be served Plum pudding. This is a traditional holiday dessert in Great Britain and Ireland. For its preparation, use bread crumbs, prunes, raisins, almonds, honey. Pudding is considered a family tradition and the recipe can be inherited. It is usually prepared in advance - 2-4 weeks before the holidays. During serving, they flambé - sprinkle with cognac or rum and set on fire.

Traditional ones with dried fruits and nuts are also prepared in advance.

The sweet table is quite diverse, on it you will find and, shortbread and macaroons, shortbread and sweet rolls. Of the spirits, the British prefer -, punch and English spicy ale, the cup with which is traditionally raised for health and well-being!

New Year is celebrated with cheerful companies in pubs or at home, but without a lavish feast, with alcoholic drinks and light snacks.

In New Zealand, Australia and other countries that were English colonies, the traditions of celebrating Christmas have been adopted, including culinary ones.

America

And on New Year's, they get by with snacks and drinks, indulging in fun. They prefer strong alcoholic drinks and.

There are many versions of the origin of the world's first cocktail, including the most romantic ones. But they are all somehow connected with the cock tail. It is confirmed in writing that the cocktail was first mentioned in 1806 in New York, in the Balance and Columbian Repository, where the cocktail was defined as “Stimulating liquor, consisting of any alcoholic beverage with added sugar, water and bitters. from herbs ".

Among the New Year's cocktails among Americans are popular:

Red Currant Champagne - cocktail of champagne and red currant or cranberry puree;

Ginger Sparkler - Champagne, ginger wedges and sugar

Champagne Punch and Sangria - punches and sangria with different berries and fruits;

Cranberry Sparkler is a non-alcoholic cocktail made from cranberry puree, orange juice and soda water.

In the cuisine of the southern states, the influence of Latin American cuisine is felt. On the Christmas table, tamal may be present - a dish of meat and corn that is cooked in corn leaves.

Canada

In the English speaking part of Canada, Christmas dinners are similar to English and American dinners.

The main dish of the table is turkey. It is served with potatoes or mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce.

For dessert - pudding. Traditional baking.

Obviously, the French-speaking part of the country is dominated by the traditions of France.

France

In France, the main holiday of the year is Christmas.

The whole family gathers for reveillon - dinner on Christmas night - December 24th and indulges in the feast almost until the morning. refined and varied, replete with a large number of dishes from vegetables, cheeses that are famous all over the world, high-quality wines,.

Needless to say, Christmas dinner turns into an exquisite feast.

The French are gourmets, the festive table will certainly include delicacies: foie gras (goose liver), oysters, king prawns, and others, as well as French cheeses and fried chestnuts.

A number of dishes have a ritual past and symbolize one or another action.

A traditional dish on the French table is poultry, goose or duck, cooked with a special delicacy, stuffed with, for example, mushrooms, goose liver or truffles, marinated with various spices and baked.

Another traditional dish is the festive rooster, kaplan, which is bred and fed in a special way for its larger size and more delicate taste.

Another tribute to tradition is the Christmas log - Buche de Noel. There was an ancient custom of burning a Christmas log, dating back to paganism, when the arrival of the winter solstice was celebrated by burning a log. Now no one burns the log, but the tribute to tradition has remained, and the log appears on Christmas night in the form of a sweet roll on French tables. The French also have territorial gastronomic features of the Christmas table.

Le pain calendeau - Christmas bread, traditional for the south of France, part of which is usually given to the poor.

In Provence, it is customary to serve 13 desserts (according to the number of 12 Apostles and Christ), which include all kinds of sweets and dried fruits.

And, of course, all this variety is washed down with French wine and champagne. And what, even in the homeland of the drink?

Belgium

European countries bordering on each other and having common historical roots have similar cultural and culinary traditions.

Belgian cuisine has absorbed a lot of French, Austrian and German.

On the festive table in Belgium, there are meat dishes, a special role is given to pork (it is considered the most prolific animal).

Among the sweets, in many ways similar to all European ones, one can note the Christmas wreath - ceremonial cookies with almond filling, sprinkled with almonds and candied fruits, in the shape of a ring. , which the Belgians consider to be their national product, can be found here all year round, even on the New Year's table.

Germany

Christmas in Germany is the most anticipated holiday of the year. They start preparing for it in advance. Christmas markets have started to work in cities since November. On them you will find all the attributes of Christmas, decorations, souvenirs, try traditional spicy mulled wine, and other national treats.


A few weeks before Christmas, the Germans prepare (Stollen) - a traditional Christmas cake. To prepare it, raisins and dried fruits are soaked in cognac or rum in advance, and after baking, the stollen is abundantly sprinkled with powdered sugar and sent for storage - to ripen until Christmas night.

On Christmas Eve itself, or Holy Night (Weihnachten), German families gather around a richly set festive table.

As in many other European countries, the main dish on the festive table is fried goose. It can be prepared with apples and prunes, or with dumplings, and each family has its own signature recipe.

Potatoes and vegetables are served as a side dish. In addition to the goose, stewed cabbage (Sauerkraut) and fried sausage or pork shank (Eisbein) must be served.

Also on the Christmas table is a must.

And this is no coincidence, since fish is an ancient symbol of Christianity.

In general, everything that is served on the table on Christmas evening is symbolic. There is a tradition of serving seven or nine courses for the "holy supper". Mainly cereals, seeds, and other products that personify new life - wheat, peas, beans, nuts, poppy seeds, caviar, eggs. And wheat porridge seasoned with butter and honey is attributed to magical properties. solid and solid, like everything German. Many recipes have survived unchanged since the Middle Ages.

In pre-Christian times, the Germanic peoples celebrated the winter solstice at about the same time. Therefore, many dishes have retained their recipe, but acquired a new meaning and became a Christmas one.

Originally traditional German baked goods were gifts to pagan gods, who were placated with gingerbread, marzipan, and fruit pies.

And now baked goods are always present on the tables in the form of stollen, gingerbread and gingerbread houses.

It is popular in eastern Germany, which can be traced to the influence of the national gastronomic culture of its eastern neighbors.

Austria, Hungary

Alternatively, the Viennese schnitzel, which has gained worldwide popularity, can be served.

And, of course, the pastries for which Austrian cuisine is famous. It can be classic, Linz tart, Sachertorte and others.

In Hungary, it is customary to serve traditional bagels - poppy seed and nut rolls for the festive table.

Norway, Sweden, Finland

Let's take a look in the north of Europe, in the Scandinavian countries, and see how Christmas is celebrated in Finland, Norway and Sweden.


Christmas is also the main holiday of the year for them. Each of these countries has its own characteristics of the celebration of this event.

Finland is the place where the tale of Santa Claus comes true. After all, it is here, in Lapland, that the residence of Santa Claus (in Finnish - Yolupukki).

Christmas Eve goes on in much the same way as in other European countries: a church service, a meeting with relatives, a festive table.

The main Christmas dish in Finland is pork ham. For garnish - baked vegetables: potatoes, carrots, rutabagas. From cold appetizers, the Finns prefer - beet salad (an analogue of ours).

Milk rice porridge with almonds is always present on the table. According to belief, the one who gets it will be lucky and good health next year.

Many pastries are prepared, including traditional gingerbread cookies and plum jam puffs.

The traditional drink of the winter holidays is a spicy gleg, which is very similar to mulled wine.

Norway also has a respectful attitude towards Christmas and touching traditions.

While preparing festive dishes, do not forget to leave a plate with treats for the Norwegian Santa Claus - Yuleniss, as well as feed the birds. The holiday is quiet and family-like.

Fish is a must on the festive table: a cod dish called lutefix and herring.

Pork ribs, roll and sausages. Garnish with mashed potatoes.

And for dessert - rice cream with a nut and 7 types of cookies.

In Sweden, there are now tendencies not to highlight the religious component of the holiday, Christmas for Swedes is a period of “seasonal congratulations”, an occasion to gather relatives and friends, exchange wishes and gifts.

As in all Scandinavian countries, fish dominates. For the Swedes, this is a fish casserole - "Jansson's Temptation". The filling of the Christmas table is traditional for the Scandinavian peoples - pork (ribs, ham, jellied meat); pickled herring and cod; sweet rice porridge, gingerbread cookies and saffron buns, which are baked here from the feast of Saint Lucia (December 13).

Russia

Russia occupies a vast area from the Baltic in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, and from the White Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south. Needless to say, how diverse are the traditions and cuisine of the nationalities inhabiting the country?


For example, in the cuisine of northerners there are a lot of sea fish, rye pies, mushrooms. It is similar to the Scandinavian cuisine. On the Don, they cook game, eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, much of the cooking was adopted from the Turks. And in Siberia and the Urals - among the Tatars and Udmurts. phenomenally diverse!

Culinary traditions have undergone significant changes in the course of historical events. These are also the Peter's reforms, when there was a borrowing of elements of Western European culture, everyday life, and culinary traditions. Under Peter I - from Holland and Germany. And under Catherine II and Alexander I - France.

The Soviet era also shaped certain tastes and laid the culinary traditions of entire generations of the people.

And despite the fact that under Peter I the transition to the Gregorian calendar took place and a decree was issued to celebrate the New Year on January 1 and decorate the house with Christmas trees, it was in Soviet times that this holiday acquired a dominant role, displacing Christmas.

Calendar New Year comes before Orthodox Christmas (January 7), therefore, larger celebrations fall to its share.

New Year's table to match the scope of the holiday and the breadth of the Russian soul. The abundance of cold - from pickles (

For garnish - mashed potatoes or baked potatoes, vegetables. When it comes to dessert, it could be!

Tangerines and champagne are another symbol of the New Year!

Now imagine that this whole set can still be complemented by regional and family-style traditional food and drinks!

For people who are fasting at Christmas, “resisting” is a serious challenge.

But the more joyful is the meeting of Christmas and the Christmas meal!

A traditional Christmas dish is kutia, a wheat dish with honey, poppy seeds, raisins and nuts.

Since the time of Russia, pork dishes have always been served on the Christmas table: sausages, jellied meat and even a fried pig. In addition, other meat dishes were prepared: a goose with apples, a hare in sour cream, lamb.

An indispensable dish for Christmas, as well as for all holidays, was pies: open and closed, pies, pies, chicken pies, saikas, shangi, as well. We washed down with mead and sbitn.

All kinds of gingerbread, candy, cookies, brushwood relied on the sweet table.

Many of these dishes are still being prepared today, perhaps not on such a grand scale ...

The common history of Russia with the peoples of Ukraine, Belarus and Eastern European countries professing Orthodoxy makes the traditions of celebrating Christmas and the New Year, including culinary ones, similar.

Our gastronomic journey is coming to an end, although the list of countries and the study of their traditions is endless!

The history and traditions of the countries of the world, despite the regional characteristics, have a lot in common! New Year and Christmas are warm family holidays. The main thing is not what you put on the festive table, but who will gather at it to wish each other happiness, health and prosperity next year!

Christina Belko

Hello! My name is Christina. When I was a little girl, I loved to look at my mother's cookbooks and sculpted plasticine dishes for my dolls. Now I am a mother of two kids myself and I really like to pamper them with different goodies. Searching for interesting recipes and sharing culinary tricks has become an exciting hobby for me. I draw inspiration from my family, books and walks around the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. I choose delicious and healthy food for my family. When cooking, I use simple and affordable ingredients, often using a double boiler. I love Russian cuisine, I think that this is part of our history and culture. Also, our menu often includes dishes of national cuisines that have proven themselves all over the world. The recipes that I offer you are loved by my family and friends. I hope that you will like them and to the table! I will gladly answer your questions, accept comments and suggestions! Leave your comments on the site or email me [email protected] and @kristinabelko on Instagram.

Christmas is a special holiday for many people around the world. And, perhaps, one of the most important traditions is Christmas dinner. What kind of food is served on Christmas Eve for the festive table in different parts of our planet? Traditional German treats are mulled wine and a candied fruit pie called stollen. Stollen is often baked with humps, in memory of the camels on which the Magi got to the cradle of Jesus. Many Bulgarians go hungry on the eve of Christmas, and for the holiday they treat themselves to stuffed vegetables, soup and pies.
Fijians' festive table is made up of fish wrapped in banana leaves, stuffed chicken and baked pork. It is cooked in a lovo earthen oven lined with heavy stones.
In the United Kingdom, fig pudding is the decoration of the table. It should be doused with brandy and set on fire.
Italians call Christmas dinner "the feast of the seven fishes." The table is served with dishes from a variety of seafood - squid, cod, anchovies, as well as pasta with shellfish.
The French also prefer seafood. Lobsters, oysters and foie gras are usually on the table.
The traditional Swedish Christmas dish is rice pudding. Almonds are hidden in one of the portions, promising those who have found luck until the end of the year.
Residents of Costa Rica treat themselves to tamales, a pork and corn dish that has been passed down from generation to generation.
In Ethiopia, they eat doro wat, a chicken roast served on thin flatbreads. And forget about knives and forks, this dish should be handled.
In South Africa, Christmas comes in the summer, and locals flock to the braai, an African grill, to roast lamb, turkey or pork.
It's also summer in Australia in December, and Australians have a Christmas BBQ. They roast turkey, lamb and large shrimp.
Ghanaians eat corn porridge, okra stew, and a variety of root vegetables called fufu for Christmas.
Most of those who find Christmas in Antarctica celebrate the holiday on board the ship. So they have to settle for meat, canned food and frozen vegetables.
The Christians of Egypt observe a strict fast for the three days before Christmas. The main dish at this time is "kushari", made from pasta, rice and lentils, seasoned with tomato-vinegar sauce.
In India, biryani, or curry, is served for the holiday - a dish made from rice and spices with the addition of meat, fish, eggs or vegetables. Sweet milk pudding is offered for dessert.
The people of the Philippines prefer a whole baked suckling pig with a ball of yellow cheese in its mouth.
In Iceland, Christmas dinner starts at 6pm and consists of a wide variety of meat dishes, including venison.
Argentina serves "vitele ton" - veal in tuna sauce, as well as turkey, pork, and bread. Gala dinners are often served in the backyard barbecue style.
Finnish people organize a Christmas buffet with ham, bread, fish, various casseroles and vegetables, and warmed wine with spices
In the US, many people prefer eggnogg, or drunken eggnog, a drink made from beaten eggs with sugar and wine.
Believe it or not, on Christmas night, dozens of Japanese people flock to KFC to eat crispy chicken with a side dish.

New Year is a special holiday shrouded in miracles, magic and symbols. One of these symbols is the New Year's table. People around the world believe that special holiday food can bring happiness in the new year and traditionally prepare these dishes. Let's see what kind of food will be on the New Year's table in different countries.

England

None of the traditional New Years in England are complete without plumpudding, which consists of lard, bread crumbs, flour, raisins, eggs and spices. Before serving, the pudding is sprinkled with rum and set on fire, which makes the holiday even brighter. Also traditionally, stuffed turkey with vegetables and gooseberry sauce is served on the table. Turkey with vegetables is considered a traditional dish and pleases guests at any holiday.

America

Ideyka is also considered a traditional American dish, however, unlike English, American turkey is prepared differently. In very simple terms, a turkey is stuffed with all the products that are "lying around" in the refrigerator. Usually it is cheese, garlic, prunes, apples, cabbage, beans, mushrooms, spices.

Austria, Hungary

In these countries, serving a bird to the festive table is a bad sign. Superstitious residents of these countries believe that if you serve a bird to the festive table, then happiness can fly away. Traditional Austrian cuisine is rich in its own delicacies. So, for the festive table you can serve schnitzel, strudel, you can also prepare a traditional Austrian fish salad. In Hungary, it is customary to serve traditional bagels for the festive table - poppy and nut rolls, which migrated from Jewish cuisine.

Denmark, Sweden

The main New Year's festive dish of the Danes is cod. This dish symbolizes happiness and wealth. Lutefix, a fish dish made from dried cod, is always served on the Swedish festive table.

Germany

Herring is considered an integral and symbolic dish on the festive table in Germany. It is believed that herring will definitely bring happiness in the coming year. Traditional and equally important dishes on the festive table are Sauerkraut - stewed sauerkraut with sausages, Eisbein - boiled pork knuckle and, of course, many types of German sausages. (each region has its own varieties).

Israel

It is important to note that Israel celebrates the New Year in September. The New Year's festive table for the people of Israel has a number of its own rules. The main rule is that bitter, sour and salty dishes are removed away. The table is covered with sweet dishes. Also on the table are usually honey, dates, pomegranates and apples. Challah - a festive pastry - is dipped in honey. This tradition is followed by many people. Thus, the Israelites "sweeten" the coming year. Boiled fish, baked apples, cabbage, beets are also served on the festive table.

Holland, France

On the Dutch festive table, you will surely find deep-fried donuts and salted beans - one of the main national dishes - just for the New Year. In France, the traditional New Year's table is not complete without fried chestnuts, oysters, beautifully decorated goose pâté sandwiches, cheeses and, of course, French wine.

Poland

In Poland, there are exactly twelve dishes on the New Year's table. And not just one meat! Mushroom soup or borscht, barley porridge with prunes, dumplings with butter, chocolate cake for sweet. An obligatory dish is fish. In many countries, she is considered a symbol of family happiness and well-being.

Czech Republic and Slovakia

A similar set of dishes is present on New Year's tables for housewives in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. True, they prefer pearl barley porridge, and strudel is required - a puff roll with apples, the pride of every good housewife.

Romania, Australia, Bulgaria

Among the many traditional dishes presented at the festive New Year's tables, you are sure to try a special cake. Its peculiarity is that one of the guests in a piece of cake will definitely get a coin, or a nut, or a peppercorn. The happy owner of the find will start a family next year.

Japan

On December 30, mochi is always present on the pre-holiday table - small cakes made from boiled rice, which are made with fruits and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Long noodles must be present on the New Year's festive table. The longer it is, the longer the life of the participants in the feast will be. On the tables there is often seaweed, fried chestnuts, peas, beans, boiled fish, these components are a guarantee of happiness, success in business, health, peace of mind.

Spain, Portugal, Cuba

In many countries - Spain, Portugal, Cuba, the vine is considered a symbol of abundance and a happy family hearth since ancient times. Therefore, the inhabitants of these countries with the striking of the clock at midnight eat twelve grapes - according to the number of strikes of the clock. A wish is made with each grape - twelve cherished wishes for every month of the year.

Italy

In Italy, it is also customary to serve grapes, nuts, lentils to the New Year's table, as a symbol and guarantee of longevity, health and well-being.

Tibet

The people of Tibet have a nice New Year's custom. The hostesses bake mountains of pies with a wide variety of fillings and present them to all acquaintances and strangers. The more you distribute, the richer you will be!

Belgium

In Belgium, they eat veal sausage with truffles, boar meat, traditional cake, wine.

The British are putting Christmas plumpudding on the table. It is prepared from lard, bread crumbs, flour, raisins, eggs and various spices. Before serving, the pudding is poured over with rum, set on fire and flaming is placed on the table.

In addition to pudding, turkey is served with gooseberry sauce. In general, for any holiday in England, a stuffed turkey with a vegetable side dish is served.

America

But on holiday tables Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia there is never a Christmas goose, duck, chicken, turkey - they think that it is forbidden to eat a bird that evening - happiness will fly away.

Cheese pies. Often a coin is put in a pie or pies, it is believed that wealth (or a broken tooth) awaits the finder.

Vietnam

Special delicacies are prepared from rice (well, from what else !?) In Vietnam, many dishes are prepared especially for a festive feast. A special place is occupied by white and green pies. The white round ones symbolize the sky and are baked from flour. Greens make them square, which reflects the ancient traditions of the perception of the Earth just such a shape. Green pies, known for more than two thousand years, are called "ban tyung". They are made from glutinous rice stuffed with soy and pork. The process itself is quite laborious: the pies are wrapped in bamboo leaves, tied with twine and boiled.

Germany

In Germany, on New Year's Eve, there must be herring on the table, it brings happiness in the coming year. They also prepare New Year's cake, pork with stewed cabbage.

Also at Christmas, brightly colored dishes with apples, nuts, raisins and all the pies that were baked this week are definitely served. The symbolism here is special: the apple remained from the apple tree of the knowledge of good and evil in paradise, nuts with a hard shell and tasty cores mean the secrets and difficulties of life, as the embodiment of the proverb: "God gave a nut, but man must crack it." Even in Denmark, they eat duck or goose stuffed with fruits (usually apples), rice pudding sprinkled with cinnamon, sweet rice porridge with cinnamon and raisins (according to custom, the porridge pot is left open all Christmas night so that the gnomes can enjoy Christmas food and did not harm the owners of the house throughout the next year).

In contrast to Protestant Lutheran Denmark, where fasting is not observed, Catholics Lithuania on the eve of Christmas, only lean food is eaten. Their Christmas table consists of a slice (kutya), salads, fish dishes and other lean meals that do not contain meat. Only the next day, on Christmas itself, after a family visit to the church, is it allowed to taste a roast goose.

Christmas is celebrated on a grand scale. As many different dishes as possible are prepared. Popular sweets are wine dough pies, almond cakes, and caraway cookies. Even in Spain, they eat fried lamb, shellfish, turkey, suckling pig.

Israel

IN Portugal - dried salted cod, very sweet port. Prepare 2-meter colored columns of rice, after symbolic rituals of sacrifice to the gods, are taken away to their homes.

Italy

Consumes blood sausage, apples, local sparkling wine.

Netherlands

The Dutch present on the New Year's table such a delicacy as deep-fried donuts. Fried chestnuts, pies. They also eat oysters, foie gras, champagne and cheeses.

Poland

Be sure to fish - it, especially carp, in many countries is considered a symbol of family happiness and well-being; mushroom soup or borscht; barley porridge with prunes; dumplings with butter; for sweet chocolate cake. IN Romania, Australia, Bulgaria they bake New Year's pies, and not simple ones, but with surprises: whoever gets a coin baked in the filling, a nut, a pepper pod will have a family next year, he will be lucky.

Scotland

In Scotland, special dishes are prepared for the New Year. Breakfast includes oat cakes, pudding and a specialty cheese called kebben. For lunch, there is a boiled goose or steak, pie or apples baked in dough. New Year's oat cakes among the Celtic peoples had a special shape - round with a hole in the middle. When baking, they tried not to break them, because that would be a bad omen.

Today in Scotland, a large round shortbread cake is baked for the New Year's table, topped with sugar-boiled almonds, nuts, sweets, sugar and marzipan figurines. They are usually decorated with national emblems: heather, Scottish cross, arms crossed over the sea, mountains and others.

Sweden

"Lutefix" - a fish dish made from dried cod, pork.

China

Even on New Year's Eve, most Chinese people eat fondue. A pot with meat broth is placed in the middle of the table, and a fire is made under the pot. Meat (beef, lamb), fish, squid, shrimp, and other seafood are cut into slices as thin as paper, laid out on plates and placed around the pot. The guests sit around the table and prepare their own food. When the water boils, each person takes a slice of meat, fish, or other favorite food and immerses it in the boiling broth. When the slice is cooked, it is dipped in soy sauce and consumed with pleasure.

Finland

In the Philippine Islands, people prepare a wide variety of food on New Year's Eve, the more food the better, since a rich New Year's table is considered the foundation of an equally rich edible coming year. IN Tibet housewives bake mountains of pies with a wide variety of fillings to present to all acquaintances and strangers: the more you distribute, the richer you will be.

Japan

In the temples of Japan on New Year's Eve, at exactly 00:00, the most ordinary noodles are put on the table. The noodles must necessarily be not chopped, since the longer the noodles, the longer our life.

In general, housewives in Japan prepare food for the New Year from products that, as they believe, bring happiness: seaweed gives joy, fried chestnuts - success in business, peas and beans - health, boiled fish - calmness, good spirits, herring caviar - happy family, many children. Japanese families are enjoying themselves, sitting on their knees around a low table, decorously without noisy conversations and drinking songs - nothing should distract from thoughts about the future, about what awaits in the coming year.

Well Russia · Ukraine · Belarus

Almost until the middle of the 19th century, the Russian New Year's menu did not exist, and what is now considered an invariable part of the New Year's table - all these suckling pigs with buckwheat porridge and geese with sauerkraut or apples - actually came from the Christmas table. At the beginning of the 19th century, the cuisine was not complicated. Even in the houses of the nobility, pickles and mushrooms, a radish salad could well be on the New Year's table. And they also served a piglet, veal fricassee, fried bullets, boiled trout in wine, and ruff. And, by the way, apricots, oranges, grapes and pears - greenhouses were in vogue, fruits were grown in the middle of winter in St. Petersburg and in Moscow.
The New Year's menu of the second half of the 19th century already contains salmon, caviar, smelt and vendace, cheeses - along with the same radish and pickled cucumbers. For some reason, they have cooled to mushrooms, but labardan (cod) and watermelons have come into fashion. Game competed with a pig roasted with buckwheat porridge. It's time for soft drinks, ice cream and cognacs. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, French, Spanish fortified, Italian and German wines were drunk. And in imitation of champagne, Don sparkling wines were already made. Of course, they drank vodka, liqueurs and liqueurs, Russian homemade and German beer. After the revolution, the celebration of the New Year was canceled. But he was still met. True, the dances were possible only quietly, so as not to wake up the neighbors. It was then, presumably, that the habit of sitting at the table arose. The food was meager. They tried, of course, to hang nuts in gold and silver foil, apples on the tree banned by the revolution. Rehabilitated the New Year tree in 1936, along with night dances. The Soviet New Year's table did not become exquisite - even a sausage cut into circles could decorate it. However, in the former shops of Eliseev, they still sold hazel grouses and caviar. On the tables appeared: jelly, herring under a fur coat, Baltic sprats.

The second coming of Olivier's salad has come - with doctor's sausage instead of hazel grouses. It was cooked in a large basin and generously seasoned with mayonnaise. A pig, goose, or duck were desirable but not required. It was imperative to open a bottle of "Soviet Champagne" to the chimes.

And for the older generation, with the advent of televisions, the table finally won.

In the New Year, they always try, there is something that the animal in whose honor the year is named likes. Once upon a time, "Goose in apples" was considered a traditional dish on the table. Today, this half-forgotten tradition is, unfortunately, a rarity, but "Olivier" and "Fur coat" have become familiar and, indeed, folk!

We wish you abundant New Year's table!

Sources: newyear.redday.ru, kulinarochki.ru

Photos are from the Internet.

Each dish on the New Year's and Christmas table is endowed in different countries, among different peoples with its own special meaning and meaning. Let's take a short walk according to the traditions of the New Year's table.

New Year's table in France
In France, a holiday is not a holiday if there is no traditional roast turkey at the New Year's table.



What is remarkable about the New Year's table in Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia

But on the festive tables in Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia there is never a bird - geese, ducks, chickens, turkeys. In these countries, they believe that you cannot eat a bird this evening, happiness will fly away.

New Year's pies in Romania, Australia, Bulgaria
In Romania, Australia, Bulgaria, New Year's pies are baked, and not simple ones, but with surprises: whoever gets it will be lucky.

New Year's table in Poland
In Poland, there are exactly twelve dishes on the New Year's table. And not a single meat! Mushroom soup or borscht, barley porridge with prunes, dumplings with butter, chocolate cake for sweet. An obligatory dish is fish. In many countries, she is considered a symbol of family happiness and well-being.

New Year's table in the Czech Republic and Slovakia
A similar set of dishes is present on the New Year's tables of housewives in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. True, they prefer pearl barley porridge, and strudel is required - a puff roll with apples, the pride of every good housewife.

New Year's table in Germany
In Germany, a brightly colored dish with apples, nuts, raisins and pies is always served on New Year's. The symbolism here is this: an apple is the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, nuts with their hard shell and tasty core symbolize the secrets and difficulties of life. In Germany they say: "God gave a nut, and a man must crack it."



New Year's table in Spain, Portugal, Cuba

In many countries, in Spain, Portugal, Cuba, the vine is considered a symbol of abundance and a happy family hearth since ancient times. Therefore, the inhabitants of these countries with the striking of the clock at midnight eat twelve grapes - according to the number of strikes of the clock. A wish is made with each grape - twelve cherished wishes for every month of the year.

New Year's table in Italy
In Italy, it is also customary to serve grapes, nuts, lentils to the New Year's table as a symbol and guarantee of longevity, health and well-being.

New Year's table in England
In England, traditional Christmas food is pudding and stuffed turkey with a vegetable side dish. Pudding is made from bread crumbs, flour, bacon, raisins, eggs and various spices. Before serving, the pudding is doused with rum, set on fire and placed on the table flaming.



New Year's table in America

In America, stuffed turkey is also considered a traditional dish. The turkey is stuffed with everything that is lying around in the refrigerator: bread, cheese, prunes, garlic, beans, mushrooms, apples, cabbage.

New Year's table in Holland
In Holland, one of the main national New Year's dishes is salted beans. This food is very difficult for the stomach, which cannot be relieved by either vodka or red wine.

New Year's table in Cambodia
In Cambodia, the New Year's table is set near the window and the sweets most loved in the family are served.

New Year's custom of Tibet
The people of Tibet have a nice New Year's custom. The hostesses bake mountains of pies with a wide variety of fillings and present them to all friends and strangers. The more you distribute, the richer you will be!

New Year's table in Japan
In Japan, on New Year's Eve, dishes are prepared from products that, according to legend, bring happiness. Seaweed gives joy, fried chestnuts - success in business, peas and beans - health, boiled fish - peace and courage, herring caviar - a happy family and many children. New Year's meal in Japanese families is quiet and decorous, without noisy conversations and drinking songs. Nothing should distract from thoughts about what awaits everyone in the coming year.

New Year's table in China
In China. In the end, it was the Chinese who gave us all these rabbits, dragons and wild boars, which we are trying to "appease" on the night of December 31 to January 1. Many of the traditional Chinese New Year foods are vegetarian, well seasoned. However, this does not mean at all that the Chinese deny themselves meat on New Year's - they eat and how. But they cook it in their own way. For example, chicken is baked or fried only whole, that is, with its head, legs and tail. In China, they believe that this way you can strengthen your family. The same applies to fish: it is also cooked entirely to keep the family strong and happy.

History of Russian New Year traditions
At first, under Peter the Great, who ordered to celebrate the New Year from December 31 to January 1, the main thing at the holiday was not the table, but the balls. Following the famous line from the song, for lunch, for dinner and for breakfast, our ancestors had ... dancing and drinks to quench their thirst. Almost until the middle of the 19th century, the Russian New Year's menu did not exist, and what is now considered an invariable part of the New Year's table - all these suckling pigs with buckwheat porridge and geese with sauerkraut or apples - actually came from the Christmas table. At the beginning of the 19th century, the cuisine was not complicated. Even in the homes of the nobility, pickles and mushrooms, radish salad could well be on the New Year's table. And they also served a piglet, veal fricassee, fried bullets, boiled trout in wine, ruff body. And, by the way, apricots, oranges, grapes and pears - greenhouses were in vogue, fruits were grown in the middle of winter in St. Petersburg and in Moscow. The New Year's menu in the second half of the 19th century already contains salmon, caviar, smelt and vendace, cheeses - along with the same radish and pickled cucumbers. For some reason, they have cooled to mushrooms, but labardan (cod) and watermelons have come into fashion. The game competed with the pig roasted with buckwheat porridge.

Festive roast pigs

It's time for soft drinks, ice cream and cognacs. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, French, Spanish fortified, Italian and German wines were drunk. And in imitation of champagne, Don sparkling wines were already made. Of course, they drank vodka, liqueurs and liqueurs, Russian homemade and German beer. By the beginning of the 20th century, anchovies, lobsters, sardines began to appear on the New Year's table. Apples could not do without the notorious piglet and goose, but hazel grouses and turkeys were already competing with them. During the Christmas days of 1912, 250 thousand pigs, 75 thousand turkeys, 110 thousand geese, 260 thousand chickens and ducks were sold in St. Petersburg. After the revolution, the celebration of the New Year was canceled. But he was still met. True, the dances were possible only quietly, so as not to wake up the neighbors. It was then, presumably, that the habit of sitting at the table arose. The food was meager. They tried, of course, to hang nuts in gold and silver foil, apples on the tree banned by the revolution. Rehabilitated the New Year tree in 1936, along with night dances. The Soviet New Year's table did not become exquisite - even a sausage cut into circles could decorate it. However, in the former shops of Eliseev, hazel grouses and caviar were still sold. In the forties, New Year was celebrated with vodka, boiled potatoes and herring, decorated with onion rings. Life became more fun in the fifties. Celebrating the new year was no longer considered reprehensible. And it became possible to gather not only in a narrow circle, but also in a large company. On the tables appeared: jelly, herring under a fur coat, Baltic sprats. The second coming of Olivier salad has come - with doctor's sausage instead of hazel grouses. It was cooked in a large basin and generously seasoned with mayonnaise.

A pig, goose, or duck were desirable but not required. It was imperative to open a bottle of "Soviet Champagne" to the chimes. In cramped apartments, the table took up the whole place, so you had to choose: dancing or eating. With the advent of televisions, the table finally won out.