Weirdest Christmas Foods People Actually Eat Around the World

Every country has its own holiday traditions, and when it comes to food, some Christmas dishes can seem downright bizarre to outsiders. From fermented fish to desserts made from blood, the global holiday menu is far more adventurous than most people expect.

If you're curious about unusual holiday cuisine, here are the weirdest Christmas foods people actually enjoy around the world.

1. Lutefisk – Norway and Sweden

Lutefisk is one of Scandinavia’s most infamous Christmas dishes. It’s made by soaking dried whitefish in lye until it reaches a gelatinous texture that some describe as “slippery,” “gooey,” or “melted soap–like.”

Locals either love it or fear it, but it remains a traditional part of many Nordic holiday meals.

2. KFC Christmas Dinner – Japan

In Japan, Christmas isn’t a traditional holiday—but Kentucky Fried Chicken certainly is. Thanks to a wildly successful 1970s marketing campaign, families order festive KFC buckets weeks in advance. The result is one of the world’s most surprising Christmas traditions.

A bucket of fried chicken has become as iconic as a roast turkey in many Japanese households.

3. Mopane Worms – Southern Africa

In parts of Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, Christmas feasts may include mopane worms—large caterpillars that are dried, fried, or stewed. They’re packed with protein and considered a seasonal delicacy.

For many locals, the dish is nostalgic and festive; for visitors, it's a daring culinary adventure.

4. Svið – Iceland

One of Iceland’s traditional Christmas dishes is svið: a sheep’s head, usually split in half, singed to remove the fur, and boiled. The entire head—eyes included—is typically served on a plate.

While it may shock outsiders, svið reflects Iceland’s long history of using every part of an animal to survive harsh winters.

5. Blood Pudding (Blodpudding) – Scandinavia & the UK

Blood pudding is a holiday staple in multiple cultures. Made from animal blood mixed with oats, spices, and fat, the dish varies from savory sausages to sweetened baked loaves.

While it can sound intimidating, many families look forward to it as a comforting, old-fashioned Christmas treat.

6. Pickled Herring in Fur Coat – Russia

“Herring Under a Fur Coat” is a layered salad made of pickled fish, beets, potatoes, onions, eggs, and mayonnaise. The vibrant purple dish looks unusual, but it’s a beloved part of Russian New Year and Christmas tables.

The “fur coat” refers to the brightly colored beet layer that covers the fish like a warm winter blanket.

7. Smalahove – Norway

This traditional dish involves roasting a sheep’s head until the cheeks and tongue become tender. The eyes are eaten by the bravest diners. Originally a poor man’s meal, smalahove is now considered a specialty enjoyed during Christmas in some rural communities.

It may be one of the most visually shocking dishes on any holiday menu.

8. Tamales Dulces – Mexico

Tamales are a staple of Mexican Christmas celebrations, but tamales dulces (“sweet tamales”) might be surprising to outsiders. These brightly colored treats are filled with ingredients like raisins, strawberries, pineapple, cinnamon, or even bubblegum flavoring.

They’re sweet, festive, and very different from the savory tamales most people know.

9. Green Jell-O Salad – United States (Midwest)

One of America’s quirkiest holiday dishes is the infamous “Jell-O salad,” often made with lime gelatin, canned fruit, cottage cheese, or marshmallows. It’s a uniquely Midwestern tradition that has survived decades of changing food trends.

Some versions even include vegetables—proving that holiday nostalgia outweighs logic.

10. Jan Hagel Cookies – The Netherlands

While not exactly “weird,” these Dutch cookies are unusual enough to confuse newcomers. Jan Hagel are crisp, buttery bars topped with almonds and coarse sugar, giving them a crunchy texture and a flavor somewhere between a cookie and a pastry.

They’re a Christmas classic that surprises many first-time tasters with their distinctive sweetness.

11. Polish Carp – Poland

In Poland, the centerpiece of Christmas Eve dinner is carp—often bought live and kept in the bathtub until it’s time to cook. Some families believe the fish’s scales bring good luck, so they keep them in wallets year-round.

The bathtub tradition remains one of Europe’s most unusual holiday customs.

12. Vinarterta – Iceland

This striped Christmas cake is made of layers of cardamom-flavored dough filled with plum jam. Its geometric appearance and dense texture make it unlike most Western desserts.

It’s a historic dish brought to Iceland by early immigrants and preserved almost unchanged for generations.

Festive Foods With a Side of Shock Value

What seems strange or unappetizing to one country can be a beloved Christmas tradition in another. These unusual holiday dishes offer a fascinating glimpse into cultural history, local resources, and the incredible diversity of global celebrations.

And who knows—one of these dishes might just end up on your own holiday table someday, if you’re brave enough to try it.

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