The holiday season is right around the corner, and with it comes the endless question: What should I cook for guests? While many homes hold tight to their traditional Christmas or holiday meals, others like to change menus every year. One thing is certain: food remains the main actor during this time, bringing people together, creating memories, and filling homes with warmth and joy.
Festive Holidays Around the World
The ways people celebrate the holiday season vary across the globe. Even in countries where Christmas isn’t widely observed, there are festive traditions marking the end of the year or the winter season.
- Europe: Germany’s Christmas markets fill towns with mulled wine, roasted nuts, and gingerbread. Families enjoy rich dishes like stollen (a fruit-packed sweet bread) and hearty vegan-friendly soups can easily fit the holiday table. In Poland for example, the traditional Polish Wigilia (Christmas Eve) features 12 meatless dishes symbolizing the 12 months or apostles.
- North America: In the United States and Canada, holiday tables are laden with turkey, pies, and comfort foods. Vegan twists on these classics, like pumpkin pies, stuffed vegetables, and creamy plant-based roasts, allow everyone to enjoy the festive spirit. Kwanzaa (December 26-January 1) celebrates African heritage, family, and community with feasts, music, and storytelling.
- Asia: In Japan and South Korea, Christmas is a cheerful, family-oriented festival rather than a religious one. Special cakes and sweets are central to the celebration, and vegan-friendly treats like mochi or matcha desserts can bring a plant-based twist. Many countries also celebrate Lunar New Year (Tet in Vietnam, Chinese New Year elsewhere) between January and February, with family meals, dumplings, rice cakes, and noodles; all easily adapted to vegan diets.
- India & Southeast Asia: Diwali, the festival of lights, usually occurs in October or November. Homes are decorated with lamps, fireworks light up the sky, and sweet treats like laddoos and barfis are shared. In Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, festivals like Loy Krathong or Tazaungdaing in November celebrate light and hope, often accompanied by communal feasts.
- Latin America: In Mexico and other countries, Christmas includes vibrant posadas, piñatas, and fireworks. Meals often feature tamales, rice dishes, and desserts that can easily be made vegan.
- Africa: In South Africa, Christmas falls during the summer. Families enjoy barbecues (braais), fresh salads, and tropical fruits; perfect for plant-based adaptations like grilled vegetables, marinated tofu, or fruit desserts.
- Global New Year Traditions: Many countries celebrate the start of the new year with unique customs: eating longevity noodles in Japan, 12 grapes at midnight in Spain, or wearing white and jumping waves in Brazil. These festive meals can often be made vegan-friendly with a few simple swaps.
No matter where you are in the world, festive seasons are a time to sit together, celebrate, and enjoy good food. With plant-based adaptations, we can honor these traditions while choosing compassion and sustainability, making the holidays peaceful for both people and animals.
Why Go Vegan This Holiday Season?
Choosing plant-based dishes during the holidays:
- Protects animals: enjoy traditional flavors without harming anyone.
- Supports your health: vegan dishes can be lighter and easier to digest during heavy holiday meals.
- Adds creativity to your menu: explore spices, herbs, and plant-based twists on classic recipes from around the world.
5 Festive Vegan Recipes to Try – Sneak Peak
Here are a few highlights from the ebook:
- Ukrainian Borscht Soup: Perfect for cold winter months.
- Persian Ash Reshteh: Popular Persian dish with noodles, beans and herbs.
- Swiss Fondue: A heart-warming classic, vegan version!
- Swedish Lussekatter: Swedish saffron buns, the ideal comforting snack when it’s cold outside.
- German Vegan Stollen: A classic German fruit bread, packed with dried fruits and nuts.
Get the Free Ebook: 24 Festive Recipes from Around the World
We’ve put together all our favorite holiday recipes into a beautiful, easy-to-follow ebook, perfect for holiday cooking or gifting.
If you want to dive deeper into veganism and why people choose to stop eating animals, we invite you to have a look at these articles:
- Why Vegan? The reason we travel the world plant-based
- Vegan Travel: Exploring the world without compromising your values
Here are some more articles exploring our relationship to animals: