A Christmas query…

[RelentlessOnanism]

…what do Americans tend to eat on Christmas Day? I know you mostly eat turkey for Thanksgiving, but do you have turkey again for Christmas, or something different?

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Are you writing a Christmas story?
Otherwise, https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/

 

[alohadave]

Turkey, ham, roast beef are all common Christmas dinner choices.

Italians have their Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve.

 

[MajorRewrite]

There’s a lot of variety. Turkey may be the most popular. We have a tradition of prime rib.

 

[KeithD]

Cornish game hens (one half each) stuffed with wild rice.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

Turkey with all the trimmings is pretty traditional for the main Christmas meal.

 

[MrPixel]

Our various families did ham. There's even a Wikipedia page about Christmas ham as a tradition.

 

[lovecraft68]

Usually ham because I hate turkey and bad enough I have to eat it on Thanksgiving.
My wife also makes a lasagna or a baked rice dish.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Standing rib roast on Christmas is our tradition, but as others have stated, there is a lot of variety due to the U.S. still being a melting pot of cultures and dietary favorites from around the world.

Chinese food is another popular option, especially for those without a family or others to celebrate the holiday with, since Chinese restaurants are typically the only ones open on Christmas day.

 

[RelentlessOnanism]

Are you writing a Christmas story?
Otherwise, https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/

I am, but I am trying to complete it early.

 

[RejectReality]

Christmas day is a repeat of Thanksgiving with a full turkey dinner + ham. Christmas Eve is essentially a potluck but it's primarily desserts plus finger food. No formal meal time.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Ah, Christmas at the Dynamite house, Poppa would smoke a turkey, Mummy would roast a goose, and little Millie would run away, run away, and have to be dragged back home. Not really. I never ran off at Christmas. But seriously, we did a big ole gumbo with turkey and pork. Deserts were cookies, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and some wicked good whiskey cake thing. I don't think it had a name other than whiskey cake.

 

[AchtungNight]

Cookies and fruitcake are staple Christmas treats here. Also candy canes.

 

[Voboy]

We used to do ham. Potatoes. Stuffing. Rolls. Green beans. Then we'd go up to Grandma's and open more presents, and the menu would basically repeat except Grandma did it better.

 

[NotWise]

I'm told that Chinese carryout is pretty a pretty normal Christmas dinner for those of the Jewish persuasion.

 

[Euphony]

I'm told that Chinese carryout is pretty a pretty normal Christmas dinner for those of the Jewish persuasion.

Chinese is crazy popular round here for any persuasion.

They are reliably open the holiday where many other places are not.

Movie theater holiday releases (not necessarily xmas themed) and Chinese sit down after is damn near low key traditional where I grew up.

They do obscene business. OBSCENE. I've never seen anything like it.

I've set stories there just because the whole of it is so memorable. (and lends itself to "where do we eat" compromising which is a very common experience)

Chinese buffets do a mean business too but I've seen both advertised as open and ready for serious serious traffic.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I'm told that Chinese carryout is pretty a pretty normal Christmas dinner for those of the Jewish persuasion.

Our resident, highly confused, Jew isn't here today. It is, after all, the Sabbath. If she was, I'm sure she could answer that.

 

[Euphony]

For research, local grocery store ads about a week or two prior to a holiday/event make for an excellent resource.

Inventory buyers buy what people want and shoppers buy what is stocked and advertised often prioritizing on sale.

It's easy to get away with common holiday associated foods but it's a interesting bit of next level context if you weave in maybe a local specialty, spin on a classic, or a regional brand name.

Online grocery ads make it easy.

 

[Trionyx]

I am, but I am trying to complete it early.

It’s ok! I’ve finished my holiday story already though it still needs some fine tuning.

 

[NotWise]

Chinese is crazy popular round here for any persuasion.

They are reliably open the holiday where many other places are not.

One of my few Christmas stories ends with Chinese food for Christmas dinner.

People brought their old-world customs with them when the emigrated. People here come from all over, so we have traditions from all over.

The one time I remember my mother-in-law cooking, she cooked a goose and a duck for Christmas dinner. There were only three of us at dinner, so it was mostly still there when dinner was over.

 

[MrPixel]

Chinese sit down after is damn near low key traditional where I grew up.

Yeah, since both of us had no family and didn't go to church or otherwise observe, Chinese was sort of a tradition my wife and I developed with the Jewish next-door neighbors.

 

[EmilyMiller]

…what do Americans tend to eat on Christmas Day? I know you mostly eat turkey for Thanksgiving, but do you have turkey again for Christmas, or something different?

Clam linguini on Christmas Eve. Turkey and ham on Christmas Day. Mixed Italian and East European heritage.

Em

 

[Bazzle]

I've got a Christmas story publishing tomorrow...it's bound to do well

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I suspect there is no universal menu. There’s enough diversity in 400 million people that almost anything might be ‘right’ somewhere.

 

[MajorRewrite]

I've got a Christmas story publishing tomorrow...it's bound to do well

The Hallmark Channel makes a big deal out of “Christmas in July”. Maybe you’ll start a new trend on Lit.