food

Santa Claus reading his mail. High angle view.

Whiskey And Fufu: What Kids Around The World Leave Out For Santa

3:29pm December 22, 2017

by Kristen Hartke

The tradition of leaving a snack for Santa on Christmas Eve isn't unique to America. It would appear that Jolly Old St. Nick is quite well-fed long before he reaches our shores.

Caga Tiós, Catalan Christmas logs stacked up at a market in Girona, Spain.

A Catalan Log That Poops Nougats At Christmas

2:55pm December 22, 2017

by Lindsay Patterson

Catalan holiday tradition involves a log that's fed scraps of food for several weeks leading up to Christmas. Then, it's beaten with a stick and implored to poop out a Spanish nougat called turrón.

The idea of hygge hosting is to make it casual, comfortable, and imperfect.

How To Host A Hygge Holiday Party: Get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection

4:51pm December 21, 2017

by Deena Prichep

The Nordic concept of hygge loosely translates to a feeling of coziness, and for many hosts, it's the perfect antidote to a high-stress year and the typical fussiness associated with holiday parties.

Black cake, a rich, molasses-spiced cake filled with drunken dried fruits, is a part of Christmas festivities throughout the Caribbean. The cake varies from island to island. Above, a Trinidad black cake.

For Many Caribbean Immigrants, It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without Black Cake

4:47pm December 21, 2017

by Katherine Hernandez

Many in New York's large Caribbean diaspora cling to the rich, molasses-spiced cake filled with drunken dried fruits. It takes months to prepare and is central to festivities throughout the islands.

Arts

Why Is Egg The Only Nog?

4:47pm December 20, 2017

This season, we're tracking down the origins of favorite holiday traditions. Tuesday it was all about jelly donuts. Wednesday — eggnog. But, what exactly is eggnog?

Aquavit has become a way for distilleries and bartenders to make a name for themselves in an increasingly saturated market.

After Scandinavian Spirit Shortage, American Distillers Give Aquavit A Shot

1:20pm December 20, 2017

by Tove Danovich

A once obscure spirit unless you have Scandinavian heritage, new and old-style aquavit is exploding on the American craft liquor scene. Maybe the secret's in the spices.

The author and her family gathered around their prized Christmas Eve pierogi in 2012. On the far left is "Grandmom" Cecelia Beans.

On Christmas Eve, Pass The Pierogi And The Memories

10:00am December 20, 2017

by Carolyn Beans

Sometimes it takes years to get a family recipe right. And in the meantime, new holiday traditions emerge, like arguing over how to seal "Grandmom's" Slovakian pierogi perfectly.

Religion

How The Israeli Sufganiyah, Or Jelly Doughnut, Got Its Start As A Hanukkah Treat

5:39pm December 19, 2017

Why are jelly doughnuts served on Hanukkah? The practice has a history that goes back several centuries.

Queue Listen Now

A smörgåsbord at the Christmas party held at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C. this year. The smörgåsbord was introduced to America in 1939 by the Swedish delegation to the World's Fair. The holiday version of the meal, called a julbord, is trad

At Christmas, The Swedish Smörgåsbord Redefines Over The Top

4:12pm December 19, 2017

by Larissa Zimberoff

First rule of smörgåsbord: Pace yourself. You've got to make your way through dozens of dishes — fish courses, ham, cheeses, warm entrees. And don't forget dessert. Or should we say desserts?

A cocoa farmer opens cacao pods with a stick to collect cocoa beans at his farm in Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sorry Folks, Climate Change Won't Make Chocolate Taste Better

1:41pm December 19, 2017

by Simran Sethi

Several news stories recently celebrated a new study suggesting global warming might enhance the taste of the beloved sweet. Sadly, that's not what it found at all, says the lead researcher.