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Steve Cukrov / featurepics.com
As a child, did you ever wonder whether Santa got tired of eating the same thing at each house he visited? Turns out, you needn’t have worried: though American and Canadian children leave out milk and cookies, the treats left out for him in other countries keep Santa’s night from being anything but monotonous. Here’s a look at what Santa (in whatever form he takes) can expect at houses around the world on Christmas eve.
Denmark
On Christmas Eve, Danish children leave out a bowl of special Christmas rice pudding called risengrød. The pudding is said to appease Tomte, a white-bearded mythical figure, similar to the English Father Christmas, who brings presents but has been known to cause household mischief if his requisite bowl of risengrød is missing.
Germany
In Germany, Santa can only satisfy his appetite for reading. Children there leave letters, not cookies, for Santa (who in Germany takes the form of Christkind, a white-robed, present-bearing figure from which “Kris Kringle” is derived). The letters are usually doused with glitter and attractively displayed on the windowsills. On Christmas morning, when the children wake up, the letters are gone, replaced by presents under the tree.
France
In France, children don’t leave cookies for the French Père Noël, but instead make sure to fill their shoes with carrots and treats for his donkey, Gui. Père Noël will remove the treats for the donkey and in their place leave small trinkets and tokens for the children.
Netherlands
Dutch children leave out carrots, hay and a bowl of water on Christmas Eve for Sinterklaas’ horse. Sinterklaas, in return, leaves hot chocolate, mandarin oranges, chocolate coins and marzipan figures. Not a bad trade.
Britain and Australia
The Australians and Brits figure Santa needs something a little heartier than milk and cookies to sustain him through his big night, so children leave out sherry and mince pies. The traditional Christmastime treats are made with sweet, sticky fruit and brandy, and baked into bite-sized pies.
Ireland
Santa can expect more mince pies when he gets to Ireland, but there he’ll get to wash it down with some Guinness, which Irish families traditionally leave out for him on Christmas Eve. And after a long night of hard work, Santa definitely deserves it.
Chile
In Chile, Viejo Pascuero (Old Man Christmas) is greeted with a traditional Chilean pan de pascua, a sponge cake flavored with ginger and honey and full of candied fruit.
Aparna Balasubramanyam/My Diverse Kitchen
Indians make kulkuls instead of cookies for Christmas.
Other Christmas Eve eats around the world
Not all cultures set aside food for Santa on Christmas Eve, but if he gets hungry on his long trip, here’s a look at what he can expect in other parts of the world.
India
Children don’t traditionally leave food out for Christmas Baba in India, but they do make Christmas treats called kulkuls, which are sweet balls of fried dough made from coconut milk. Want to make your own? Get the recipe here.
Japan
In Japan, children can snack on a traditional Japanese Christmas cake, a white sponge cake covered with cream and decorated with strawberries, while waiting for the arrival of the Santa-like Hotei-Osho.
Philippines
Filipino children go to bed on Christmas Eve dreaming not of sugarplums but of the traditional nochabuena Christmas meal, which involves queso de bola (a ball of Edam cheese) and tsokolate (a hot-chocolate type drink).
Kenya
A Kenyan child might save lucky Santa a bit of roasted goat, which is the traditional Kenyan Christmas Eve repast.
Argentina
And if Santa gets thirsty on his trek through Argentina, he can duck into the kitchen for some sidra, an alcoholic apple cider that’s traditionally used to toast on Christmas Eve.
What kind of food did you leave out for Santa when you were a kid?
Leave a Comment:
We leave M &Ms.....Santa seems to like them because they disappear every year.....
Being of German-American heritage, Santa got German-style snacks at our house such as lebkuchen, edelman's kuchen, springerle cookies, Pfernise, Hutzlebrot
The 'BILL' for all the money I've spent *****Merry Christmas*****
What to leave an imaginary being? Imaginary cookies and milk, of course!
Calijim, not sure if you are being funny or serious .... if the latter, I have to agree. Parents teach their children not to lie and if caught lying they punish them. So why then is it okay to lie to your children about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy etc. ????
Can't figure out what someone who thinks Santa is a lie is doing reading or posting on this thread on Christmas Eve.........
The literal types who think that Santa is nothing but a mythical being or a lie to tell their children should probably just keep their cynicism to themselves...isn't that what is supposed to happen in the progressive PC nirvana anyway?
Santa in his many forms is not a mythical being rather an embodied spirit of Christmas giving. This idea that there is an unconditional gift under the tree, at the mantle or even in shoes for children who believe in something pure and good. The idea that gifts were first offered to the baby Jesus by the wisest of men to instill hope in mankind that through children all things are possible. The annual charity that goes into assuring that every child should be recognized. There are some wonderful Santa,s in this world some are parents, some are family and some are even strangers working together to makes sure every child counts.
For you cynics...Merry Christmas...may the day offer you an opportunity to reflect the possibility of unconditional giving. Offerings without the expectation of receiving anything back. The thankfulness that children learn by making that night before offering of goodies for the giver of that special pressie to be found on Christmas morning. God Bless you and may you find some tiny ember of peace in your lives.
Exactly. Santa Claus represents the spirit of Christmas - if you believe. I don't know of any child who has suffered any serious repercussions from believing in Santa Claus, elves, reindeer who fly, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy or any number of mythological creations. All these entities, when reality sets in, only shows how much their parents love them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you don't believe, then you are entitled to your own opinion and handling of your own children. But, don't spoil it for those of us who DO believe in the fleeting magic of such spirits. Children learn about the harsh realities of life all too soon.
As someone who does not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday (but certainly respects those that do), I still believe in Santa, and the magic of Christmas. We live in selfish times to be sure, and any season that encourages peace, kindness, giving, and general goodwill should be welcome no matter what your religious beliefs. Happy holiday, Merry Christmas, Blessed Yule, Happy Hannukah, and any other I may have missed.
mc_dc ... I agree. In my family we celebrate Yule and Christmas (because Grandma is Christian and my husband is nominally Christian as well). But I have family members who celebrate Hanukkah as well.
The point of this holiday season is to celebrate peace, family, giving of ourselves - regardless of which holiday your family celebrates.
To answer the question above ... as a child we left out cookies and milk. This year my son will leave out red velvet cupcakes and either milk or coffee.
Nailed It! txmom32!
I wish my kids would leave out a bottle of Pinot Grigio for Santa but they keep insisting on cookies. I encourage them to leave the double chocolate ones because they go great with wine...uh, I mean, milk. Merry Christmas. :)
Also, TXMom, very well said - from one mom to another, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and everyone out there! That goes for all you Grinches, too. Actually, the mince pies and pint of Guinness sound like a very good change of pace, even for American Santas!
Merry Christmas Kris....I hope your Christmas and New Year are filled with possibilities and love.
Thank you. I wish the same for you and yours. May everyone keep the spirit of Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, peace, love and understanding to everyone you meet!
I agree, Kris. I'm sure Santa loves a Guinness or two on his breaks. Merry Christmas too all.
... and don't forget something for The Big Guys reindeer!!
Merry Christmas everyone and God Bless you all.
Merry Christmas too all and good night.
We leave cookies, carrots, and a Miller Lite. Santa likes to get wild.
We left milk and cookies but my dad suggested we leave Santa a martini..........
We left milk and something sweet like piece of cake, a cupcake or a cookie. Santa didn't get so jolly on cookies alone! One year we left him milk with cheese and crackers; he ate those too. Santa is like an elf vacuum cleaner!
Santa always got pumpkin pie at our house.
We left a highball made with bourbon and some cookies. Seriously. Funny thing is, my Dad liked bourbon too!
If the timing was right we'd leave out latkes. With applesauce and sour cream, of course.
hi from the netherlands
sinterklaas is not santa claus.
sinterklaas is celebrated the 6th of december when its his birthday. Santa Claus or 'kerstman' is here with christmas and is the same jolly old guy you all know.
so we certainly dont feed hay and carrots to sinterklaas' horse on christmas eve.
I would think you could at least try a little research before writing this article.
happy holidays
I left several lumps of coal on a plate in the kitchen.
We left cookies and eggnog. Parents always get up late the next day. Why is that?
PS
Us kids thought anything after 5:30 AM the next day was late.
Sinterklaas Day is on December 6 in the Netherlands. He comes from Spain, riding a horse, and is helped by a darkfaced man called Zwarte Pieten. For kids who have been naughty, Sint leaves a lump of coal in their shoes, and for the good ones, a gift, usually in addition to a mandarin orange. Children also write nice poems about their friends and present the poems to each other. I got these information from my dutch friends.
In India, eating Christmas cake on December 25th is a tradition in most parts. So is decorating with stars, Christmas trees, lights, and singing Christmas carols. Children do hang stockings on 24th night and get small stocking stuffers next morning from Santa. No food is left for him overnight, because it is considered unhygienic.
We always left out milk and cookies at our house. And having been generously rewarded for our efforts early on, we weren't about to mess with success.
We leave Bailey's, or other whiskey, and cookies. Santa needs to warm up!
We leave a plate of Norwegian goodies and some homemade candies. Santa left a signed note for the kids this year! :-)
Scotch and Pretzels for Santa in this house and apple slices for the animals.
Wild Turkey and a pack of luckys!