Traditional English food for Christmas.
Good afternoon dear friends!
Today I will tell you about the traditional English cuisine for Christmas. Many amateurs, when planning a trip to the country, will probably try fish and chips or full English breakfast first. And what awaits you if you visit the Kingdom at Christmas time? What is served here instead of the usual Olivier salad? What would a holiday table not be without? Read about it in the article.
From this article you will learn:
Make a wish
Many years ago, all the British sat down at the same time. At 3 pm, the queen's speech was broadcast, and then the feast began. Now the queen is recording her words, and many channels show them periodically throughout the day. Therefore, the holiday starts differently for everyone. However, the festive table for all families looks almost the same.
Traditional Christmas table
Smoked salmon with brown bread and shrimp is served as an appetizer. And the most important treat is a baked goose or turkey. Surely many people associate the turkey more with America, but what makes it are the snacks for it. It is served with small sausages wrapped in bacon called pigs in blankets (pig in a blanket).
Also on the table are vegetables baked in the oven: potatoes, parsnips, chestnuts, mashed turnips and rutabaga, boiled carrots, cut into thin slices and boiled Brussels sprouts. Many Britons admit that they do not really like this cabbage and do not usually eat it, but they will never refuse it on holidays.
pigs in blankets
Christmas is the time of wish fulfillment. You can guess them by cutting a festive turkey. She has a Y-shaped bone. Two people pull on the bone. The one who got the most part makes a wish.
An obligatory ingredient of the table is a clapperboard. It lies in the place of each guest. When all the main dishes have been tasted, it's time to blow it up. Inside you will find a crown and a small souvenir.
Instead of ketchup
Not only the main dishes on this day are special. Even the sauces here are served traditionally for Christmas. One of them is bread. It is prepared from slices of bread, milk, cream, onions and cloves.
Cranberry sauce is a must on the table. The recipe is simple, but for a real traditional taste, make the sauce a week before the celebration and store in the refrigerator. Boil the orange juice and sugar first, then add the cranberries and cook for 5 minutes. As the sauce cools, it will become more liquid.
And the most traditional one is gravy. It means "gravy" in translation. To cook it, you need to save the fat left over from the roasted turkey or goose, add flour and cook over medium heat until it boils.
Adding red wine, sherry or port wine can add a special touch to the taste. Some people add jam to give it a bit of sweetness.
Taste of Christmas
And now that everyone has enjoyed the rich treats, all the jokes are told, crackers are blown up and crowns are put on, it's time for dessert. They create a special taste of this celebration.
The main delicacy is pudding. Traditionally, it is carried out on fire.
If you want to make this dessert yourself, then you need to start four weeks before Christmas. Each week is called Advent.
You need to start on Sunday of the first Advent. It is called stir up Sunday (stir up - stir). Raisins, apricots, apples are mixed first, brandy is added. It is best to leave this mixture to marinate for a day.
Next, in a separate bowl, butter, sugar and cream are mixed. As you stir, be sure to make a wish. The British believe that a wish made during the preparation of pudding will surely come true. Then add the eggs and flour and lastly the spices.
Christmas pudding
Now the treat can be left in the refrigerator until Christmas. They say that the longer it sits, the more it soaks and becomes tastier. You can eat it even after a year!
Traditionally, a 6 pence silver coin is added to the pudding. To whom she comes across during the celebration, the year promises to bring good luck. The pudding is usually served with brandy sauce or custard.To set it on fire, you must first pour brandy over it. Now many families no longer want to bother with such a long cooking process and buy pudding the day before the holiday in the supermarket.
What you never give up
On the eve of the holiday and on the celebration itself, you can set a record for the number of mincemeat pie eaten (sweet English pie). By the name, it seems that it contains meat, but it is not.
The filling of the pie includes dried fruits and a mixture of spices, which is called mincemeat. It contains nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. And you can set a record because it is considered a good tradition that brings good luck to eat this pie every day of December. The British will never refuse a pie offered to them.
Returning to the topic of Advent, I will tell you about a delicacy that will bring you a Christmas mood in advance. Every Sunday in Advent, star-shaped gingerbread cookies are baked.
On the first Sunday they are small and unadorned, then they get bigger, on the third week some icing appears, and on the fourth Sunday the biscuits are large and richly decorated with icing.
Christmas cookies
Interested in going to England for Christmas?
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I was with you, Natalya Glukhova, I wish you a good day!
It's nice to be where the spirit of a real Christian Christmas reigns. If you have such a desire, be sure to go to England (the country that is the birthplace of Christmas traditions) and get acquainted with the local rituals and customs, reverently preserved by the inhabitants of this kingdom for hundreds of years.
Visiting England, you will plunge into the atmosphere of a grandiose holiday!
Christmas traditions in England
Getting ready for the holiday starts here in advance. The first preparatory step is fasting, which lasts four weeks and is called Advent. From the beginning of Advent, the British bring to their homes a special, made in the form of a wreath - "Advent Wreath". If ordinary wreaths are hung on the door, then this one is solemnly placed on the table and 4 candles are attached to it, each of which burns on one of the Sundays of Advent.
In the days leading up to Christmas, people can be found on the streets of England singing traditional Christmas carols about the birth of Jesus and his life. The hymn singers also collect donations for the underprivileged. Houses are decorated with evergreen holly branches, festive tinsel (by the way, it was the Englishman who invented them) and colorful ribbons. The British were the first of all the inhabitants of Europe to introduce the tradition of decorating their homes with holly, which, according to popular belief, repels evil spirits.
England at Christmas looks extraordinarily fabulous No less ancient is the custom of attaching a sprig of mistletoe over the door - a sacred plant of the ancient Druids, which is identified with eternal life and peace. According to tradition, if a girl stops under the mistletoe, then the man has the right to kiss her. By the way, the custom of kissing under the mistletoe originated in this country. Previously, a young man could claim as many kisses as there were berries on a branch.
Christmas night in this country is never dark - all the windows are lit by a huge number of candles. The origins of this tradition go back to the ritual of burning a special log at Christmas, so that light would defeat darkness. Such a ceremony appeared in England back in the time of the Vikings, who on Christmas days felled the largest tree and left it to dry until the new festival. Exactly one year later, the tree was cut into logs and the hearth was heated, scaring away misfortunes.
Before gathering at the festive table, the inhabitants of England go to church, and upon returning home, they watch the Queen's address on TV. After dinner, the whole family plays charades or scrabble. On the second day of Christmas, the British remember the deeds of St. Stephen, and this day is called “Boxing day”. At this time, donation boxes are set up in temples. All decorations are removed on the twelfth day after the onset of the holiday. If this is not done, luck will turn away in the new year.
The British are the legislators of the tradition of Christmas decorations Father Christmas
Since October, little residents of the UK have been writing lists of Christmas gifts,. By the way, gifts to household members should be approximately equal in value. Often they distribute by lot. Interestingly, the tradition of putting gifts in stockings also came from Victorian England. According to legend, when Santa Claus first entered the house through the chimney, a couple of gold coins fell from his pocket into a wet sock hung to dry over the fireplace.
Since then, the British began to hang stockings in the hope of receiving gifts from Santa. But Santa Claus has not always been a symbol of the holiday in England! Back in the 19th century, the traditional hero was "Father Christmas", dressed in a green suit, as a symbol of the turning of the sun for spring. The tradition of bringing gifts to children did not exist then either - the wizard simply walked around the houses of the British and spoke congratulatory words.
Red clothes appeared in this character as a result of an advertising campaign conducted by the Coca-Cola Corporation, and this happened only in the 90s of the last century. But now, on the night before Christmas, when children go to bed, they always leave a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa Claus, and they save carrots for Rudolph the reindeer. If you leave a good wizard without treats, then you can not wait for gifts.
The current image of Santa Claus was created by the legends and advertising of Coca-Cola Christmas cards
It is to the British that we owe the custom of giving for the holidays. The first of them was printed in a London printing house in the middle of the 19th century. Over time, the printing of postcards has become an independent direction in the printing industry. Printing houses carefully selected plots and pictures for future postcards - initially they depicted ivy branches, mistletoe and heather. The tradition took root so much that they began to send postcards by mail to relatives and friends who could not celebrate the holiday at home.
Traditional menu
The British believe that the Christmas table determines the well-being of the year, so they always prepare a varied menu - they bake a pig's head, meat rolls and fish, bake and decorate Christmas bread, some of which is usually distributed to the poor. There is always pudding on the table, which must be prepared in advance so that it is infused. For a long time, pudding was the most common dessert among all the inhabitants of the British Empire.
One of the main dishes on the English Christmas table is pudding. The basis of this dish is oatmeal (“plum-porridge”), which was cooked in huge cauldrons a few days before Christmas. Such porridge was prepared in a strong meat broth. Bread crumbs, dried fruits, nuts were gradually added to the brew, seasoned with honey and served hot at the festive table. Over time, this time-consuming dish was replaced by plum pudding, which is made from bread crumbs with spices and fruits.
The tradition of making pudding with the whole family is still alive - even small children are given a large spoon to interfere with it, thereby joining the family holiday. Before cutting this traditional English dessert, it is soaked in rum and set on fire. Also an obligatory dish of the Christmas table is a baked turkey, which is served with potatoes. This is a relatively recent tradition - back in the 19th century, a goose flaunted on the festive table, as it was cheaper.
The British do not forget to treat themselves to roasted chestnuts, fried bacon, parsnips and Brussels sprouts served with cranberry sauce. They certainly prepare a Christmas cake, in which they hide a bean, a ring, a coin and a button. It is believed that a bean comes across for good luck, a ring indicates an imminent marriage, a coin indicates that a person will get rich, but a button threatens financial turmoil.
Roasted whole turkey - a traditional Christmas dish Christmas tree
The Victorian era brought new Christmas traditions to England that are associated with custom. For the first time, an elegant beauty was installed in the Windsor residence in 1841. From about the same time, they began to give Christmas gifts to children and loved ones. Now spruce is supplied to the English royal court by the Norwegian royal family. The tradition began in 1946 as a gratitude for the invaluable help to the Norwegians during the Second World War.
By the way, the main metropolitan Christmas tree is decorated only with the help of vertically arranged garlands, which look rather modest. Artists of singing groups perform near the Christmas tree throughout the festive evenings. They sing holiday hymns and thus contribute to the cause of collecting donations for the poor.
In houses, Christmas trees are set long before Christmas - from the beginning of December. Common colors for decoration are red, green and gold. In conservative England, they do not like excessive variegation and appreciate the classic English style. In addition to toys, treats for children cooked according to are hung on a tree.
Elegant Christmas tree - a traditional English attribute of Christmas Holiday entertainment
The custom of staging pantomime scenes at Christmas is considered purely English. Usually they are based on fairy tales familiar to each of us - for example, "Cinderella" or "Puss in Boots". Despite all the stiffness, the British love to joke, so on Christmas, before starting a meal, each family member clap a special holiday cracker, from which, in addition to confetti, a small present and a comic message fly out.
A traditional Christmas plant in Western Europe is the poinsettia, an indoor flower with bright red leaves. Surprisingly, this tradition came to Foggy Albion from Mexico and quickly won the favor of the locals. An interesting tradition of Christmas jokes based on a play on words. Children ask friends or parents funny questions on the theme of the holiday, and they must answer them jokingly.
On the evening before Christmas - Christmas Eve - there is not a soul on the streets of English cities, and only the most popular tourist routes are filled with groups of visitors. Residents of the UK spend this evening at home, leaving the house only to attend Mass. The main service takes place in Westminster Abbey - there are so many people that there is nowhere for an apple to fall.
Christmas skits are an integral part of British holidays At Christmas, tourists can watch numerous theatrical performances that take place on the streets or are shown in theaters. Thematic programs will be held in all concert halls, and many hotels announce masquerade balls. The most massive festivities take place in London at Trafalgar Square. It is here that the main state Christmas tree is set up and open-air concerts are held.
No less interesting events are held in the Tower, the Palace of Justice, Somerset House and Kew Gardens - ice rinks are flooded here, lit by ancient lanterns and torches. The main Christmas market takes place in Leicester Square. Here you can not only taste local delicacies and buy gifts, but also take part in competitions and even win valuable prizes! English department stores offer massive discounts, so you can go shopping in the West End or Oxford Street.
Christmas discounts are sure to attract shoppers Shopping at Christmas
This is a separate type of entertainment, since Christmas is one of the biggest holidays of the year, which means that the discounts during this period are grandiose. On the eve of Christmas in the shopping centers of England there is an unprecedented excitement - everyone wants to buy gifts and take advantage of discounts. Each store sells a variety of toys and decorations, and after Christmas they sell them in bulk for 50p a box.
The excitement also reigns in flea markets, for example, on Petticoat Lane - even car traffic stops here, it is still impossible to pass among the crowds of sellers and buyers. Here you can buy gifts from all over the world - representatives of China, India, Malaysia and Turkey exhibit their assortment. The Greenwich Market also attracts tourists and locals - here you will be offered hand-embroidered clothes, antique interior items and curiosities from all over the world.
There are many amazing architectural sights in England Where else to go in England for Christmas?
- The holiday can be celebrated not only in London. Visit medieval York - one of the most beautiful English cities, famous for its Ministerial Cathedral.
- A rich excursion program awaits you in ancient Chester and in the homeland of the national hero Robin Hood - in Nottingham.
- Travel to Durham, which houses the unique Norman Cathedral, more like an ancient stone cliff.
- Not without interest to visit Leicester - the oldest city in England.
- The medieval city of Shrewsbury is famous for its beautiful Romanesque architecture, the appearance of which has not changed at all over the past centuries.
- The holiday can be met in Derby, located on the banks of the Derwent River. It is this city that is the birthplace of the industrial revolution - the first manufactories and factories for the production of silk fabrics, porcelain products and even railways arose here.
It should be noted that in the Holy Scriptures there is no collection of culinary recipes for festive dishes. As a result, the lack of strict recommendations has led to a significant variety of variations on the Christmas menu. And yet, as in many other countries, in the UK there are a number of dishes that are considered classics.
And in pre-Christian times, and later, rich people always had the opportunity to choose gastronomically, while the poor ate whatever they had to - such is a brief history of the traditional feast. Some of its periods can be considered in more detail.
Medieval
Representatives of high society ate goose, woodcock, and sometimes a swan for Christmas dinner - but only with the permission of the king. As a rule, the bird was fried with butter and saffron. Wealthy Christians also had venison on their menu. When the remaining parts, like offal, went to the poor, they made pies - this is how folk holiday recipes arose.
Christmas puddings were made from thick porridge, dried fruit, honey, egg yolk and spices.
Elizabethan
The call to "eat, drink and be merry" personified Christmas during the reign of Elizabeth II. In the homes of those who could afford it, various delicacies were prepared. Sugar, which was very expensive at the time, was a key ingredient in most gourmet dishes, such as "collops of bacon" with ground almonds and sugar or "leech", a milk-based treat with rose water and, again, with sugar.
Among the drinks, spiced wines and "Lambswool", that is, "sheep's wool", made from hot cider, ale, spices and apples, were popular.
Puritan
In the late 16th century, Puritans believed that Christmas was a dangerous excuse for excessive drinking, eating, gambling, and generally bad behavior—in 1644, the celebration was outlawed by an Act of Parliament. The prohibition, however, was unpopular, and many people continued to celebrate in private, albeit in a much more restrained manner than in Elizabethan times.
After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, old customs also revived in society.
Georgian
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Twelfth Night of January 5 was one of the most important dates in the holiday calendar. The centerpiece of the parties, which included games, drinking and eating, was the Twelfth Cake, the forerunner of today's Christmas cake. A man who found a dried bean in his piece was elected king, and a woman who had dried peas was elected queen. For the rest of the evening, the new monarchs reigned supreme, even if they were servants the rest of the year. By the early 19th century, the pie itself had become a highly sophisticated culinary creation.
Victorian
When Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837, few families could afford a turkey or chicken for Christmas dinner.
Roast beef was commonly served at Christmas in northern England, while goose was a favorite in the south. Someone made do with a rabbit. By the end of the 19th century, most people ate turkey for Christmas dinner.
The Second World War
“And if we are cheerful on Christmas, we will show the Nazis that we are winning the psychological war and maintaining a valiant spirit,” British publications of that period answered people's questions in a similar vein about whether it is necessary to celebrate Christmas at all in such a difficult time.
For those who could buy meat, during the war, chicken, rabbit, or "fake turkey" made from lamb replaced the unavailable turkey. Fruit, sherry, chocolate and other sweets, as well as other products for the Christmas table, were also in short supply.
Our days
Pigs in a blanket
They are eaten and they grunt. "Pigs in Blankets" are those small bacon-wrapped sausages that often accompany a roast turkey at Christmas dinner.
The first written mention of the name of this dish in the UK was recorded in 1957. Previously, various regional variations were known, including, for example, "wrapped sausages". Versions in the test are simply called “sausage rolls”
Beef Wellington
The direct etymological connection of this dish with the famous British commander and statesman has not yet been established. Meat baked in dough was already an established part of English cuisine by the time the Duke of Wellington became famous for defeating Napoleon at Waterloo. True, there is an opinion that the similarity with the French fillet "de bœuf en croûte" may mean that "Beef Wellington" was "a timely patriotic rebranding of a trendy continental dish"
Today, the dish is a beef tenderloin covered with pâté, which is baked in puff pastry.
Roast beef
This dish of national British cuisine, which has considerable cultural significance, will decorate any holiday table. Roast beef, about which the famous ballad "The Roast Beef of Old England" is composed, is a large piece of beef cooked in the oven, for example, with garlic and rosemary. Garnish can be mashed potatoes or roasted Brussels sprouts.
Christmas ham
Christmas ham or "Yule ham" is believed by historians to have arrived on the islands with the Anglo-Saxons. The tradition of its preparation presumably originated among the Germanic tribes as a tribute to the pagan deity responsible for fertility and harvesting.
Aztec turkeys were brought to Europe in the 15th century by Spanish conquistadors. The tradition of preparing this bird for Christmas spread throughout Britain in the 17th century, although many still preferred to eat the roast goose. The turkey is served with winter vegetables including roasted potatoes, Brussels sprouts and parsnips. Cranberry sauce is a traditional condiment in the northern rural areas of the United Kingdom. In the south and in urban areas, bread sauce used to be used instead.
Honey Roast Parsnips
Parsnips roasted with honey are a classic ingredient in the British Christmas dinner. Parsnips are chopped, mixed with butter, honey, seasoned with salt and pepper, and then fried.
Nut roast
A popular vegetarian alternative made up of a variety of nuts, grains, vegetable oil and seasonings. The mixtures are given an oblong shape and fried or baked.
Christmas pudding
Christmas pudding or "plum pudding" originated in medieval England. Contains a lot of dried fruits, eggs, molasses, fat, alcohol, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and other spices. Usually aged for a long time.
Many British families have their own recipe, passed down from generation to generation.
Mince-pie
Filled with a mixture of dried fruits and spices, this festive sweet pie, before the European crusaders brought Middle Eastern recipes in the 13th century, contained meat and was known by several names, including "mutton pie", "shrid pie" and "Christmas pie"
Yule log
This chocolate-covered biscuit roll, which looks like a miniature log, was baked at Christmas, and was preceded by the medieval custom of burning a Christmas log - in turn, borrowed from the pagans.
Dessert of layered fruit, jelly, sherry-dipped biscuits, custard and whipped cream. According to the earliest surviving recipe from 1596 in a cookbook by Thomas Dawson, it used to be a thick cream with sugar, ginger and rose water.
British Cooking: Traditional Christmas Dishes updated: December 25, 2018 by: Marco Bayanov
culture
Christmas is one of the most beloved and long-awaited Christian holidays, celebrated all over the world, although on different dates. For many, this holiday is associated with happiness, fun and good mood, and this is at a time when the weather outside the window can leave much to be desired. At Christmas, it is customary to gather with family, friends and relatives and prepare delicious dishes, which will be discussed. Find out what dishes Christians from around the world prefer to treat themselves to at Christmas.
1) Eastern Europe
In the countries of Eastern Europe, on Christmas Eve, it is customary to cook lean dishes without meat, since before that it is customary to keep the Christmas fast. The next day you can cook meat dishes. It is customary for Slavic peoples to commemorate deceased relatives and loved ones on Christmas and even leave a place at the table with food for them.
Traditional Christmas dishes in the Czech Republic are fried carp and potato salad. This tradition appeared when the country began to breed fish in large quantities in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is also customary to prepare different Christmas cookies that are distributed to guests. Preparations for Christmas begin long before the holiday itself.
2) Peru
On Christmas Eve, the whole family usually gets together for a hearty dinner of turkey stuffed with minced meat and nuts and garnished with fresh pineapple slices and cherries, fried potatoes and applesauce. For dessert, marzipan, raisins, almonds and panettone pie with a cup of hot chocolate are served. At midnight, someone says toasts, people exchange wishes, hug. Then they take their places in the living room and begin to sing Christmas songs.
3) Finland
The Christmas table in Finland is rich in various dishes, most of which, however, are related to the season. The main dish is usually a Christmas ham, which is eaten with mustard or bread, not forgetting about other dishes. Fish can be served - lutefisk (fish soaked in alkali) or gravlax (salted salmon), as well as liver casserole with raisins, potatoes, rice and carrots. From drinks - mulled wine (warmed wine with spices).
4) Canada
In the English part of Canada, Christmas dinners are not much different from English or American ones. Traditionally, a stuffed turkey with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, vegetables is put on the table, and for dessert - raisin pudding. Eggnog - a milk punch with beaten eggs and alcohol - is a very popular drink during the winter holidays. They also serve cakes with butter cream, shortbread cookies, which are traditionally baked on the eve of Christmas.
Immigrants brought with them many of their dishes and traditions. In the French part of Canada, as you might guess, French customs are most followed.
5) Denmark
In Denmark, the traditional Christmas table is set on December 24th. They serve either baked pork or goose. The meat dish is served with potatoes, red cabbage or sauce. For dessert - rice pudding, often with almonds inside. Whoever gets a nut will be lucky next year. Traditional Christmas drinks are mulled wine and beer, which is specially made for Christmas. These drinks have a high alcohol content.
6) Holland
Christmas dinner in Holland is somewhat different from the traditions in neighboring countries. One of the Dutch traditions is "gourmet". Small groups of people get together, each brings his own frying pan and cooks his dish in small quantities. The owner prepares chopped vegetables and various types of meat and fish, shrimp in advance. All dishes are complemented by different salads, fruits and sauces. The tradition probably came to Holland from Indonesia, a former colony.
The Dutch love to cook traditional European dishes for Christmas, including roast beef, rabbit, pheasant, or glazed ham. The meat is served with various vegetables and salads. In recent years, the traditions of the Anglo-Saxon countries have become very popular in Holland. As in England, they began to cook turkeys for Christmas.
7) France
In France and some French-speaking countries, Christmas begins on the evening of December 24th. The French call this holiday reveillon(Dinner on Christmas night) from the word reveil– "awakening", as traditionally the participants have to stay up virtually all night or at least until midnight. Traditional dishes: goose or duck liver, oysters, smoked salmon, lobster, roast duck, goose or turkey with chestnuts. For dessert, a traditional Buch de Noel Christmas cake with chocolate or nut flavor, which is made in the shape of a log. From drinks usually prefer to drink champagne.
8) New Zealand
Due to the fact that New Zealand was a colony of Great Britain for a long time, many traditions of celebrating Christmas came here with the British. For Christmas, they cook a baked turkey with vegetables, sometimes stuffed, poured with cranberry sauce. Roasted ham can sometimes be served as a main dish, and lamb is also very popular here.
One important difference from English Christmas feasts is the absence of a goose, since these birds are not raised in New Zealand, and the government prohibits the import of foreign meat products. For dessert, in almost all cases, Christmas pudding (or raisin pudding) and sweet butter with brandy are prepared. These dishes also came from England. Many other dishes can also be found on the New Zealand Christmas table, including German muffins, the French Buch de Noel log cake, and the Italian panettone pie. However, these dishes are the exception rather than the rule. Since New Zealanders are forced to celebrate Christmas not in winter, but in summer, they like to celebrate it in nature, seasonal fruits and berries are served on the table. Also a very popular Christmas dessert is Pavlova cake made from whipped egg whites with fruit.
9) UK
For the British, Christmas celebrations begin in the afternoon. For a festive dinner, a baked turkey or goose (sometimes a duck, but this depends on the number of guests) is served. Sometimes they offer a baked ham or piglet, fried potatoes, boiled or steamed vegetables, especially Brussels sprouts, sausage stew, cranberry sauce. For dessert, pudding and sweet butter with brandy.
In England, the tradition of cooking a turkey for Christmas was born quite quickly. In the beginning, in medieval England, either peacock or wild boar was cooked as a main dish. After the French Jesuits brought turkeys to England, these birds have been a staple at Christmas since the 18th century.
In the UK, according to tradition, the sternum of a bird is divided at Christmas, thus predicting the future. This bone in the form of a slingshot is taken by 2 people who begin to pull both ends of it in different directions. As a result, after it breaks, the person who has a long bone in his hand remains the winner, he will be lucky all year, the other - on the contrary.
10) USA
Many Christmas traditions in the United States were borrowed from England and other European countries, however, this is not surprising, since the first settlers were Europeans. The main dishes for Christmas in America will be turkey, cranberry sauce, corn, pumpkin and green beans. Dessert is what the family likes according to ethnicity, but pumpkin pie, marzipan, biscuits, panettone pie, fruit cake, apple pie, carrot pie and others are often served. Roast beef can be substituted for turkey, as turkey is the main Thanksgiving meal in November.
In different states, it is customary to cook different dishes, for example, in Hawaii - teriyaki sauce, in Virginia - oysters and ham pie, and in the Midwest - dishes of the Scandinavian peoples - lutefisk, turnip dishes. In the southwest, especially in New Mexico, pozole soup, tamal (meat stewed with corn), bizcochito biscuits and others.
24.12.2011
The traditional Christmas dinner is very important to the English. Traditionally, dinner starts in the middle or early afternoon in England, and throughout the UK.
UK Christmas Dinner Menu
The traditional Christmas dinner includes stuffed turkey (in the English) or roast goose (in Wales, Ireland), Brussels sprouts and chestnuts, fried potatoes, cranberry sauce, breast stuffed with nuts, sausages in bacon (or “pigs in a blanket”) and hot bread sauce .
When preparing fruit pudding, the British pour brandy over it and set it on fire, this is done in order to ward off evil spirits. This dessert is called "Christmas Pudding".
Traditional UK Christmas Turkey
After eating a turkey, you need to find a bone of desire. This is one of the "Y" shaped bones. Two people take different ends of the bone and break it, and the one who gets the larger piece grants the desire of the other.
Christmas crackers
Merry Christmas!
UK Christmas Turkey Recipe
Ingredients: Turkey 4-5 kg, bay leaf, black pepper, peeled onion, nut butter, 1 tsp. thyme.
Preheat oven to 220 C.
Pepper the turkey inside and out, put the bay leaf and thyme inside. Brush the turkey with nut butter.
Place on a baking sheet, breast side up, next to the onion.
Bake for about an hour, then loosely wrap with foil. Continue baking for about an hour and a half.
Put the finished turkey in another dish or on a wire rack to allow the fat to drain.
Put on a festive dish and serve. Don't forget to add good vibes!
UK Christmas pudding recipe
Ingredients for 4 servings: 200 g prunes; 100 g of light and dark raisins, dried cranberries; a handful of almonds; 2/3 st. dark beer; 50 g brandy; 2/3 st. dark sugar; 100 g whole grain coarse flour; 50 g of ordinary flour; 2 tbsp. l. pork fat; 2 eggs; zest of one lemon; 1 pear; 1/4 tsp. ground cloves and ginger; 1 tsp grated nutmeg and cinnamon; 0.5 tsp soda; butter
Melt sugar in pork fat, add dried fruits, pour in beer, bring to a boil, cook for 5 minutes over low heat. Add lemon zest, spices, mix, let cool.
Pour the sifted flour, beat in the eggs, add soda, chopped almonds, diced pear, pour in the brandy, mix, transfer to a greased bowl.
Cover with a baking paper cartouche, then with a lid, place in a saucepan with water, cook in a water bath for 4-5 hours at a gentle boil, adding water. Allow to cool, remove the paper, cover with a plate, turn over. Pour over brandy and set on fire, take it out to the public in the dark, serve immediately.
Anna Baralovskaya based on Woodlands materials
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