The word "Christmas" has a rich history, with origins in Latin and Greek language signifying "Mass of Christ" and was associated with the Catholic celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Over time, however, Christmas slowly moved from a religious tradition to a secular celebration, embracing diverse cultural customs and becoming an important occasion across the world.

The merriment of Christmas has become so significant that during this season, a majority of people are spending more money on gifts, food, and shopping. In a 2022 study, World Remit projected that families were likely to spend 156% of their monthly salary on the holiday season. With food as the central part of Christmas celebrations, people are often willing to splurge to enjoy this festive day with family and friends. This makes it one of the best times for hotels and restaurants to market themselves as a culinary destination for Christmas celebrations while improving their F&B profit.

A huge part of the Christmas Eve tradition is eating a Christmas Eve feast which usually includes traditional dishes like stuffed turkey, ham, and Christmas desserts. However, restaurants can create a fun but familiar experience by incorporating any of these traditional Christmas recipes from around the world into their Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day menu. These traditional desserts can evoke fond memories and can make the Christmas menu much more appealing and inclusive.

Here are some of the festive recipes from around the globe that diners can enjoy and restaurants can include in the Christmas menu this year:

1. Garam Masala chocolate cookies

Typically found in savory and warm Indian and other South Asian dishes, Garam Masala is a mix of aromatic spices that are rarely found in traditional Christmas desserts. It uses spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon and nutmeg but when mixed with cocoa, it becomes a surprisingly delightful taste and a Christmas treat that can appeal to Indian and Western customers. It can be paired with other Christmas desserts and can be consumed alongside tea or hot chocolate.

2. Thai curry and Thai papaya salad

Whether it is a Christmas lunch or a Christmas dinner, a soup can break or make the table. In Thailand, their traditional curry is one of their most famous traditional soup that is often seen on the Christmas table. Unlike regular curry, the Thai version has a refreshing taste that comes from fresh ingredients. Moreover, a Thai curry has various versions, varying from the spicy red curry to the sweet massaman. This makes Thai curry a versatile dish to complement different Christmas foods. 

In addition, Thai Curry can also be served with their traditional papaya salad, Som Tam, to bring a more refreshing taste to the table. Unlike a regular leafy salad, Som Tam is packed with sweet, spicy, and sour tastes. It is ideal for those who are looking for refreshing options with a burst of Southeast Asia’s flavors.

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3. Arabic Warak Dawali

Warak Dawali is one of the most common food that is seen on Arabic dining tables, especially during festive times. While Arab countries are predominantly Islam, a minority of Arab Christians partake in Christmas celebrations. Warak Dawali is an ideal Christmas meal to eat on Christmas Eve. Consisting of meat and rice stuffed into grape leaf wraps, this dish is a versatile Christmas meal that can be enjoyed as both part of a main meal and also a side dish along with baklava (sweet pastry dish)!

4. Filipino-style roasted suckling pig

Chicken or turkey has always been the centerpiece of a Christmas table. For Filipinos, however, the flavorful lechon is the ultimate treat. Lechon is a Spanish-influenced whole roasted pig that always completes a Filipino’s festive table, especially during Christmas, which is the Philippines' most important holiday. Preparing a lechon requires quite a long time, but the process is rather straightforward, and the dishes can be easily incorporated with other dishes. While lechon can be quite an expensive treat, it can feed a large group of people, especially during important occasions like Christmas, when people generally want to bond and eat together.

5. Pan de jamon

Pan de jamon literally means ham bread, Pan de jamon is a Venezuelan traditional dish that is often seen on the table during the holiday season. The ham bread is stuffed with raisins and olives, offering a balance of both sweet and salty flavors rolled into a dough. The dish originates from Venezuela and has existed for more than a century, but it has been adapted into many different variations, likely due to contact with Venezuelan culture when Venezuelans migrated abroad.

Serving Pan de jamon is a way of paying tribute to the Latino culture, adding color and variety to the traditional Christmas desserts on the table. It can be served warm and chilled alongside coffee, hot chocolate, champagne, or even sparkling wine!

6. Chocolate peppermint biscotti

A crispy and crunchy treat, Biscotti is a classic Italian almond cookie popular in many Italian regions and is often enjoyed as an after-dinner treat. However, blending this traditional dish and adding chocolate and peppermint can add unique Christmas flavor to the already popular dessert, a perfect accompaniment to a hot tea or coffee.

This treat can be served as a holiday breakfast, part of a Christmas brunch, or an after-Christmas meal dessert. Enjoy a taste of Italy and its rich-chocolate tradition by making a variation of this traditional dish and incorporating it into the Christmas menu.

7. Galette de rois

The King’s cake is not just a classic French Christmas dessert. It has transcended from being a European Christmas treat to becoming a fun Christmas traditional meal staple around the world.

Galette de Rois is a delightful surprise made out of puff pastry and filled with almond cream. A small charm, usually a baby miniature, is added to the tart. Whoever finds the charm will be crowned as the king of the celebration. As proof of its lasting popularity, last year, Choix in Intercontinental Dubai Festival City sent several portions of a full tray of King’s Cake to their beloved customers.

8. Korea’s cinnamon and ginger dessert punch

Many North American Christmas recipes include heavy cream and sugars for the desserts. However, the South Koreans’ Sujeongwa, or cinnamon and ginger dessert punch, offers spicier and fresher options that warm the body and aid digestion. Eaten on festive holidays like New Year's and Moon Festival periods, it's also a perfect drink for the Christmas season. Its versatility as a drink means it can be paired easily with other South Korean Christmas desserts. To add a fruity taste, persimmon is also added to the punch.

9. Christmas quiche

This French pastry is one of the oldest Christmas food around the world, with Quiche Florentine and Quiche Lorraine being the most popular types of quiche in the world. Cooking this savory pastry is relatively effortless. Quiche is a custard egg tart that is baked in a crispy pie crust. Bacon, seafood, vegetables, or any other toppings can be added to the mixture, making the dish versatile for any kind of Christmas table.

Because of the variety it provides, restaurants can bake a nostalgic traditional quiche or an upscale version with a unique twist. While it can be served as a party finger food, some restaurants also sell it to customers as a whole pan to be shared with their families at home.

10. Kampot Pepper Crab

Cambodians are predominantly Buddhists. However, there are a number of Christians and many Western tourists who like to visit the country during the holiday season, making Christmas a valuable celebration in big cities and some tourist destinations.

The Kampot Pepper Crab dish is one of the most popular ones.  The crab from Kapot, a city in Southern Cambodia, is fried and served with Cambodian traditional garlic sauce and local peppercorn, creating a unique taste that complements the sweetness of the crab meat. Because of its uniqueness, the Kampot Pepper Crab can make any Christmas meal memorable.

11. Indonesia’s Nasi Kuning (yellow rice)

Although the majority of Indonesians are Muslims, "Natal", a local term for Christmas, is honored as a religious celebration in Indonesia

A traditional dish, Nasi Kuning, or yellow rice is one of the most common food found in many festivities in Indonesia, including Christmas Day and other festivities. It symbolizes wealth and prosperity in the color gold. Made using rice, turmeric, and coconut milk, Nasi Kuning can be served a la carte or as ‘tumpeng’, a yellow rice cake. The Asian Christmas dish is often enjoyed with other traditional dishes, such as spicy boiled eggs or slow-cooked beef.

12. Vietnamese spring rolls

Heavily influenced by Western countries, such as France, Vietnamese Christmas often serves classic Christmas food during the Christmas Eve dinner. However, local dishes, such as spring rolls, are always a staple at the family table.

Unlike Chinese spring rolls that use wheat wrappers, the Vietnamese version uses rice paper to wrap the vegetables and protein. The spring rolls. which CNN deemed to be one of the best food in the world in its 2021 list, can be served as it is or as fried finger food.

Unique Christmas celebrations in Asia

Christmas traditions around the world have beautifully integrated with local cultures, creating unique celebrations that reflect the customs of a country and local cuisine.

Asian Christmas dishes, for example, have become very distinct from their Western counterpart. Instead of serving plum cake and roasted chicken, Asian families serve local, fusion food or make their reinterpretation of Western Christmas cuisine using local and seasonal ingredients that are available.

Some Asian countries even have bigger festivities during the season. In the Philippines, for example, the Christmas countdown starts as early as September 1st when people start to set their Christmas trees. Another example is Vietnam where the people often host outdoor Christmas Mass and have a communal feast right after the liturgy. In some areas in Indonesia, people like to share food with the local communities during Christmas time. 

Diversity doesn’t erase the joyful spirit of Christmas. It just adds more color to the celebration. At the end of the day, Christmas is an evolving holiday that always maintains its true core: togetherness, love, and sharing.

Learn more: How does Asia celebrate Christmas