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Home › Blog › Discover London ›Traditional British Christmas Foods

Traditional British Christmas Foods

December 8, 2021April 21, 2022

by Rebecca Holmshaw

Everyone’s Christmas is a little different. But there are some things that are tradition, shared between everyone in a family, region or country. In the UK many Christmas traditions revolve around food. In this blog we’re going to look at some of the most popular British Christmas foods, what they involve and what makes them so special.

Turkey

The star of the show at Christmas, it is important to have turkey as the main meat of the dinner. Although turkey is not the most popular meat during the rest of the year, at Christmas families spend a long time picking out the perfect turkey to eat, and hours cooking it to perfection. It is always the center of the meal! 

 

Pigs in Blankets

Sausages wrapped in bacon. What could be better? These small meaty treats are an essential side dish at Christmas. They are simple and delicious! 

 

Yorkshire Puddings

Yorkshire Puddings are a traditional food eaten year round in the UK. Made from batter, they create a bowl you can fill with vegetables, meat and gravy, or can be eaten alone on the side of the dish. It is a versatile food which is a Christmas favourite for many.

 

Brussel Sprouts

A controversial vegetable, the Brussel Sprout gets mixed reviews, but they must always be available at Christmas dinner. Some people love them, some people hate them. Boiled or roasted, alone or with bacon, they are a classic.

 

 

Christmas Pudding and Christmas Cake

These delicious Christmas dessert can take months to prepare. Both are traditional cakes made from dried fruits and alcohol. The secret is to continue adding small amounts of strong alcohol to the cakes for a long time, little by little for weeks and weeks. The main difference between the two is that Christmas Cake has icing and marzipan on top and is baked in the oven, whilst a Christmas Pudding is boiled and can be covered in alcohol and set on fire when serving. 

 

Mince Pies

These Christmas desserts are deceptively named: although mince normally refers to meat, these pies are filled with delicious dried spiced fruit. They are beautiful with a cup of tea, warmed up in the oven or cold straight out of the box. 

 

Christmas Crackers

While this portion of the meal isn’t edible, it’s an essential part of every Christmas dinner. Christmas Crackers are put on the table before the meal, and are opened when the meal starts. Christmas Crackers have a very small amount of gunpowder on a piece of paper inside them, so that when you pull them open they make a loud ‘Bang!’ sound. Inside you will always find a paper crown, for you to wear whilst you eat, a small game or toy, and a little joke. It’s tradition in most households to go around the table telling each other the jokes you found inside. Watch this video for an example of a Christmas Cracker:

 

If you’re interested in spending some of the winter in London, and enjoying our Christmas traditions, visit our website to learn more about our English courses. 

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