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Original poster

To think it’s weird millions of people eat the same dishes on one day of the year?

84 replies

HelloCharming · 04/12/2025 07:30

I have Russian friends who visited one Christmas (when it was still easy for Russians to visit). When we asked them what they ate for Christmas they looked confused and said, we cook something we really like, usually a bit more expensive or luxurious than usual. They thought it was hilarious that practically a whole country cooked essentially the same dinner on one day of the year.

bit of a lightbulb moment for me. We are having beef this year, and will be having lamb the first year we aren’t hosting lamb dislikes (the rest of the family).

OP posts:
Fibrous · 04/12/2025 07:45

Not everyone has turkey. I ditched it decades ago and so did a lot of people I know. We often have beef but this year we’re having porchetta. Some years we’ve abandoned the roast concept totally and just had a Mediterranean feast as we had two many veggies coming so thought we’d do a big sharing table instead with everybody contributing dishes. That was one of my favourite years.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 04/12/2025 07:42

Where are your Russian friends from, op? I was under the impression that Communist attempts to destroy cultural traditions were largely unsuccessful but maybe they were more successful in parts of Russia than others?

Katemax82 · 04/12/2025 07:42

Nothing weird at all! Even less weird a lot of people cook turkey despite not really liking it! Don't get me started on the fact I absolutely love stilton and pickled beetroot but it only makes an appearance at Christmas

schoolfriend · 04/12/2025 07:41

We don't have turkey (no-one really likes it) so we usually have rib of beef. One year we had curry (we all love it). Traditions are all a bit weird when you think of it.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 04/12/2025 07:41

It isn't weird to enjoy eating food on a traditional day. It's a highlight. I'm sure there's 1000's of people who eat something different at Christmas.

LezUlez · 04/12/2025 07:38

It's valid that it's weird. And absolutely have what you want for Christmas dinner. But really all traditions and cuisines come from people across a community doing the same or similar things. Otherwise how would we have the impression that Russians eat borscht, drink vodka etc.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 04/12/2025 07:35

I think it’s weird they were seemingly unaware of the concept of particular foods being traditional on certain days, it’s hardly unique to the UK and Christmas.

But absolutely, have what you like. Sometimes the realisation hits that you are having turkey just because you have always had turkey and nobody at the table actually likes it!

curious79 · 04/12/2025 07:35

That's interesting and weird because the Russians (and all of the world for their festivals) have very specific traditional dishes they eat over the Christmas (and other) periods. For Russians, this includes some kind of roast bird, and a traditional barley porridge, kutia, that they eat as part of the Christmas Eve ritual meal - 'Sochelnik' .

That said, I'm always amazed by how much variety there is even within the general roast theme.

Squishedpassenger · 04/12/2025 07:33

Lots of cultures do this. Some eat the same things their ancestors ate on the same days and have done for hundreds if not over a thousand years.