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Christmas Foods Around the World

What people actually eat at Christmas in Britain, Italy, Mexico, Sweden and Japan, and why the menus differ so much. Food vocabulary that beginners can use immediately to describe their own family celebration.

The Christmas menu changes completely from country to country: roast turkey and Christmas pudding in Britain, panettone in Italy, tamales in Mexico, a julbord of cold and hot dishes in Sweden, seafood on a hot Christmas Day in Australia, and in Japan a bucket of fried chicken, which became the festive meal after an advertising campaign in the 1970s.

Food is the easiest possible speaking topic because every student has something true to say about it. Describe two of the meals in the video, then ask what is on the table at their own celebration, who cooks it and what would be missed if it were not there. The vocabulary arrives on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do people eat at Christmas in different countries?

Britain has roast turkey and Christmas pudding, Italy has panettone, Mexico has tamales, Sweden lays out a julbord of cold and hot dishes, and in Japan a bucket of fried chicken has become the Christmas meal thanks to a 1970s advertising campaign.

Why is Christmas food so different from country to country?

Because each tradition grew from what was available and what mattered locally: a midwinter roast in the north, seafood on a hot Christmas Day in Australia, a sweet bread where baking was the celebration. The holiday is shared, the menu is local.

How can I use this topic in a speaking lesson?

Ask students to describe their own family's festive meal, then compare it with two from the video. Food gives beginners something concrete to talk about, and comparing traditions naturally produces phrases like we usually, in my country and unlike in Britain.