20 Christmas Morning Breakfast Traditions Worldwide
Discover how families worldwide celebrate Christmas morning with unique and delicious breakfast traditions that warm the heart and excite the taste buds!
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Christmas morning breakfasts are a delicious view into the world’s tapestry of cultures. They are rich in tradition and are festive, bringing loved ones together. From Mexico’s tamales to Sweden’s rice porridge, every country provides different dishes that warm hearts and fill the holiday spirit. These dishes not only please the palate but also celebrate heritage, family, and the universal delight of Christmas morning.
1. United States: Cinnamon Rolls
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Warm, gooey cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven are a timeless American Christmas breakfast. Families often bake them together on Christmas Eve as a treat for Christmas morning. Served with hot cocoa or coffee, they make an excellent, sweet start to this festive season.
2. Mexico: Tamales
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In Mexico, tamales are a must on Christmas mornings. They are made from corn dough with meat, cheese, or vegetables wrapped in corn husks. The tamales are served with champurrado, a thick, spiced chocolate drink. Making tamales is a family activity before Christmas.
3. France: Pain Perdu
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French families might enjoy pain perdu, or French toast, on Christmas morning. Traditionally, it’s made with day-old bread soaked in eggs, milk, and sugar and fried to golden perfection. Dusting powdered sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup makes it extra festive.
4. United Kingdom: Full English Breakfast
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In the UK, a big, Full English Breakfast is popular on Christmas morning. It includes eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, mushrooms, and toast. Smoked salmon or mince pies are also festive favorites for many families.
5. Germany: Stollen
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A slice of Stollen, a fruitcake filled with marzipan and dusted with powdered sugar, is the most common German breakfast food. It’s usually enjoyed with coffee or mulled wine. This dense, sweet bread is a holiday season favorite that dates back to the 14th century.
6. Italy: Panettone
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Italian families love panettone: a tall, dome-shaped sweet bread studded with candied fruits and raisins. They are often served over coffee or sparkling wine for a light, indulgent breakfast, although some toast them lightly to enhance their flavor.
7. Sweden: Risgrynsgröt (Rice Porridge)
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In Sweden, families are served risgrynsgröt, a creamy rice porridge topped with cinnamon, sugar, and a pat of butter. A single almond is hidden in the pot. Whoever finds it is thought to have good luck for the coming year. It’s the perfect warm, comforting meal to start the day.
8. Norway: Smoked Salmon and Eggs
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Norwegian Christians may awaken on Christmas Day with the tasty accompaniments of smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, and rye dark bread reminiscent of coastal tradition along the land.
9. Spain: Churros and Chocolate
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Christmas morning in Spain most often begins with churros con chocolate. Thick, rich hot chocolate surrounds the crispy, sugar-dusted fried dough, making it the perfect decadent fuel for the day’s play.
10. Australia: Tropical Fruit and Pavlova
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Since Christmas in Australia falls in summer, many traditional breakfasts include tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, and passion fruit. Pavlova, a meringue dessert with fresh fruit, is sometimes added. It’s a light, refreshing way to embrace the season’s warmth.
11. Russia: Kasha (Buckwheat Porridge)
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In Russia, Christmas breakfast often includes kasha, a hearty buckwheat porridge served with butter, honey, or milk and sometimes topped with dried fruits. This simple dish reflects the Orthodox fasting traditions leading up to Christmas.
12. Poland: Pierogi
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Polish families can cherish Christmas breakfast with pierogi, filled with sweet or savory ingredients. Cheese and potatoes are favorite fillings; people love sweet ones with fruit preserves. Pierogi tastes heavenly, and sour cream is served on the side to create a comfort food experience.
13. South Africa: Vetkoek
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South Africans enjoy vetkoek, a fried dough bread often accompanied by savory mince, butter, and jam. This filling option is well suited for a holiday morning. This tradition reflects the country’s diversity in its mix of European and indigenous culinary influences.
14. Japan: Christmas Pancakes
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In Japan, where Christmas is celebrated more as a festive occasion than a religious holiday, breakfast often includes fluffy, souffle-style pancakes. Topped with whipped cream, strawberries, and syrup, they mimic the colors of Christmas. It’s a sweet and trendy start to the day.
15. Philippines: Bibingka and Puto Bumbong
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Christmas morning in the Philippines is all about bibingka (rice cakes baked in banana leaves) and puto bumbong, purple steamed rice cakes. Coconut, butter, and sugar usually accompany these dishes, served after the pre-dawn Simbang Gabi mass. This brings back the warmth of Filipino hospitality and community.
16. Denmark: Æbleskiver
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Danish families might enjoy æbleskiver, spherical pancake-like pastries, for Christmas breakfast. They’re served with powdered sugar and jam for dipping. Light and fluffy, they pair perfectly with hot coffee or tea.
17. Finland: Christmas Star Pastries
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A traditional Christmas breakfast in Finland is star-shaped puff pastries filled with prune or apricot jam. These are known as joulutorttu, which are light, buttery, and festive. Often, they accompany coffee or glögi (mulled wine).
18. India: Appam and Stew
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In Kerala, India, Christian families usually serve appam (fermented rice pancakes) with a coconut milk-based stew. The stew is made from vegetables or meat and flavored with aromatic spices. This is an excellent combination of tradition and indulgence at festivals.
19. Jamaica: Ackee and Saltfish
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Jamaica’s national dish of ackee and saltfish often graces the Christmas breakfast table. Served with fried dumplings, plantains, and breadfruit, it showcases the island’s vibrant culinary heritage.
20. Canada: Tourtière
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In parts of Canada, particularly Quebec, tourtière—a savory meat pie—is a Christmas morning tradition. It’s made with minced pork, veal, or beef and spiced with cinnamon and cloves. Families might serve it alongside eggs or toast for a hearty breakfast.