Sweet Holiday Celebrations Around the World

The holiday season manifests magic in myriad ways around the world with traditions based on foods, drinks, and sweets. Festive lights and decorations bring each flavorful experience to life at these feasts for the senses.

In the United States, vacation destinations decorate with tree displays and gingerbread mansions, serving fireside s’mores and festive cocktails for every winter holiday of the season. Wineries host dinners with pairings, vineyard lights, and artisan markets. In New York City and beyond, delis, diners, fast-casual joints, and fine-dining restaurants fry up latkes for Hanukkah.

In France, the Réveillon feast celebrates fine foods and traditions from around the country: pain d’épices from Burgundy, seafood from Normandy, Christmas market cookies in Alsace, and 13 desserts from Provence.

And sugar reigns supreme. Sweet holiday traditions span Bûche de Noël in the United Kingdom, Buñuelos in Mexico City, and Pavlova in Australia and New Zealand. Marzipan brings good luck in multiple countries and forms, perhaps shaped like an eel in Spain or a pig in Scandinavia.

England’s destination bakeries make malt loaves, winter citrus bakes, and classic tearoom specialties. Portugal celebrates with Sonhos fritters, Bolo Rei and Bolo Rainha, the gelatinous dessert Pudim, and the sugar-dusted cake Queijadas da Vila Franca. In India, traditional sweets showcase local and seasonal produce, from crunchy rose cookies and syrup-kissed kulkuls to Goan classics like bebinca, dodol, marzipan, and guava cheese.

At Istanbul’s Christmas markets, Turkish people and visitors sip traditional winter drinks like hot salep and cold boza. Speaking of hot and cold, Australians from Melbourne to Sydney celebrate the holidays with uniquely summer traditions: seafood platters, cherries on ice, and tropical pudding.

Of course the traditions continue with the new year. Korea’s crunchy, chewy, syrup-soaked world of hangwa is a storied example. From yakgwa to dasik, traditional confections are a timeless part of Korean Lunar New Year.

Whether you’re embarking on holiday travel or celebrating at home, seek out these festive foods and drinks for authentic experiences and gifts to make the holidays that much sweeter.