Dust off your elf hat, get out those fairy lights and start your festive playlist as Christmas is around the corner. Although there are countless different ways to celebrate this holiday, the best by far is with succulent, yummy and tasty food. Although there is nothing wrong with eating your regular diet during this time, there is nothing like tucking into delectably comforting foods that evoke the spirit of the season. Regardless of your tastes, you are bound to find a dish that will bring you back to bygone years as you celebrate this holiday.
A time for family
Christmas, in one form or another, has been celebrated across the globe throughout history. This holiday is inspired by a number of different Pagan holidays from Roman and Celtic history. Originally, it was a celebration of the end of the harvest as well as the winter solstice. However, as Christianity grew in popularity, the winter solstice celebration was integrated into the faith and became the celebration of the birth of Christ. In modern years, this holiday has become a time when people show their loved ones how much they care. Now, the festive season is celebrated with gifts and copious amounts of food, such as the ones below:
- Gingerbread – This truly is the ultimate baked treat to indulge in during Christmas. Made from a combination of aromatic spices like ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon, it is warming and festive. There are two common versions of this dish. The first is more of a soft cake-like loaf that is perfect next to a cup of hot chocolate. The other is a hard cookie that can be used as bricks to craft beautifully decorated gingerbread houses or gingerbread men to decorate your tree.
- Christmas cake – Nothing is quite like this boozy fruit cake during the festive season. Made from a large number of dried fruits and an enriched dough, this cake is typically made a few months in advance and kept in a dark cupboard until the big day. In preparation for this, the baker liberally douses the cake with brandy every week. Before being served at the festive table, the cake is decorated with marzipan and glace cherries in the iconic red and green. These cakes are typically served alongside afternoon tea, however, they can be rather alcoholic so it may be a good idea to line your stomach before you treat yourself to a slice.
- Baked ham – Christmas does not revolve exclusively around sweet treats and desserts: this is the real star of the show during the festive season. Made from a smoked hock of ham, it is baked with a variety of aromatic vegetables. Once cooked, the ham is glazed with either syrup or honey and returned to the oven to cook the magnificent crispy crust.
Don’t miss out on any of the holiday cheer
Celebrate Christmas the right way by ordering a fruit cake from your favourite bakery or a honey glazed ham from a Western-style restaurant.