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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

mynameiscalypso · 04/12/2025 07:45

I think food traditions are fascinating; I love the connection to our history and also how they have evolved. Turkey, for example, is a relatively new introduction. Beef was very popular in the Victorian age. A lot of traditions are based on seasonality too - a connection we have lost. Lamb is not generally associated with Christmas because it’s not the best season for it.

howonearthdidhedothatwiththetinfoilgiraffe · 04/12/2025 07:50

It is weird really and whats weirder is people's shock that they dont have to eat turkey! I know a few people who moan about not liking it so I suggested drumroll... not having it and having something else instead, and you'd have thought I had suggested they have a threesome with their local vicar by the way they reacted. Complete shock horror that anyone deviate from the norm of turkey at Christmas!

If you love turkey then crack on, but this idea that you must eat turkey and sprouts on a specific day is so utterly bizarre to me.

IamnotSethRogan · 04/12/2025 07:51

Well none of our family particularly likes Turkey so we've always had beef. This year it's beef wellington. Just a fancy roast init

CheekyChickenFucker · 04/12/2025 07:53

We usually have beef and maybe a bit of ham. We did look at other birds this year other than turkey but they were so expensive. I think people are slowly moving away from traditions here and just eating what they like. Puddings tend to vary a lot now and aren't as traditional. Families just make what they are good at making (or defrosting 😁) and have their own traditions.

I find it weird how most countries get together Christmas Eve but we do it on Christmas Day.

CaptainMyCaptain · 04/12/2025 07:59

It isn't weird. It's tradition and culture and it's not compulsory. Even within the idea of a Traditional Christmas Dinner people have their own variations.

drivinmecrazy · 04/12/2025 07:59

We usually have rib of beef or racks of venison.
this year we’re having goose.
I was shocked at the price of it, £110!!!
that’s to feed three of us, fussy DD2 is having fillet steak.

snoopythebeagle · 04/12/2025 08:02

We’ve never, ever had turkey on Christmas Day.

Growing up it was normally duck, goose or chicken - as adults we have chicken and share it with the cats and the dog Grin

GreyCarpet · 04/12/2025 08:03

You're allowed to eat whatever you want any day of the year.

I can't believe you've only just realised this.

heartofsunshine · 04/12/2025 08:05

That's pretty hypocritical coming from a culture that has a week long festival dedicated to pancakes and belinis 😂😂
Its culture. Most people have a cake on their bday and a glass of champagne at a wedding too 😂

u3ername · 04/12/2025 08:06

Tell her about Sunday roast. Comes around every week.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 04/12/2025 08:18

We always have curry ! My husband makes maybe 3 or 4 dishes in advance a day or 2 before! I make lovely naan bread

and we just have to heat it up then in the day - so nobody is cooking all day !

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 04/12/2025 08:20

heartofsunshine · 04/12/2025 08:05

That's pretty hypocritical coming from a culture that has a week long festival dedicated to pancakes and belinis 😂😂
Its culture. Most people have a cake on their bday and a glass of champagne at a wedding too 😂

Bellinis?

RedToothBrush · 04/12/2025 08:21

Not done turkey pretty much ever.

My parents always did chicken.

We have never done it. Cos it's awful.

RavenPie · 04/12/2025 08:32

I think it’s lovely. It’s a hand reaching back to your ancestors and a hand reaching forward to your descendants. I like the big cultural element - turkey at Christmas, lamb at Easter, whisky at new year etc but also the little family “we always have…” things. It centres you and brings you back. Novelty and change is necessary but rhythm and constancy are important too.

AnxiousAnnieeeeeeeeee · 04/12/2025 08:33

I absolutely love Christmas dinner - I love turkey and all the trimmings. Not everyone in my family does though. My kids do, DH less so. He prefers ham, so we have that too.

I like traditions - however, I wouldn’t bother with a turkey if I didn’t like it. Why eat things you don’t like?

I also like the traditional desserts - trifle is always a feature on Xmas day in our house.