U-Multirank Winter Calendar 2020
Day 31
Country: Ukraine
Food/ beverage: Kutya (Kutia)
People who live in Ukraine are part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and must follow a strict diet during the holidays. Many things that are consumed all over the world are taboo, such as foods containing fat, sugar and meat. Even the festive meal is based on these guidelines, which is why special delicacies have emerged. Kutya is an example of this, it contains wheat, poppy seeds and nuts and is sweetened with honey. However, it should be noted that this food may only be eaten when the first star appears in the night sky. If you’re fascinated by Ukrainian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Ukrainian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Ukraine is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Kutya recipe.
Day 30
Country: Brazil
Food/ beverage: Turkey
Brazil is a Catholic nation with inhabitants from many different cultures and countries. This is also reflected in Brazilian cuisine, which can be described as a true melting pot. Turkey is a very traditional Christmas meal, although Brazil is one of the countries with the highest beef production. If you look at the size of the country, it quickly becomes clear that there can also be regional differences and in some places fish or pork is more common. Traditionally colored rice and Brazil nuts are served as side dishes. A complete banquet of course includes a successful dessert, which is also very common in Brazil and can be found in everything from Italian to Portuguese cuisine. If you’re fascinated by Brazilian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Brazilian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Brazil is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this traditional Brazilian turkey recipe.
Recipe: Easy traditional Brazilian turkey recipe... even for students
Day 29
Country: Mexico
Food/ beverage: Romeritos
In Mexico traditional Christmas dinner is a shared event which is celebrated on Christmas Eve, or Noche Buena. With a location being set by a family, the host usually contributes the bulk of decorations, food, and dinner ware; guests are expected to contribute with a side dish, dessert, or alcoholic beverages. A very traditional Christmas dinner from Central Mexico is Romeritos. Romeritos is a dish made of tender seaweed twigs that are cooked and served in a sauce. The food is often seasoned with prawn jerky and refined with potatoes, nopales and prawns. If you’re fascinated by Mexican culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Mexican holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Mexico is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Romeritos recipe.
Day 28
Country: Korea
Food/ beverage: Kimchi
Kimchi is very popular in Korea all year round, yet it is impossible to imagine a feast without Kimchi. Kimchi is a collective term for vegetable dishes that have been salted, seasoned, and fermented. The history of kimchi goes back to ancient times. Although Christmas is not directly celebrated in Korea as in many other Asian countries, the Chinese calendar is used to celebrate the New Year in winter. Traditionally, Kimchi is prepared with cabbage, but there are also modern ways of preparing Kimchi, for example, cucumbers or turnips can be used to prepare Kimchi - a way to mix something old with something new, which could be a motto for a New Year's celebration. If you’re fascinated by Korean culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Korean holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Korea is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Kimchi recipe.
Day 27
Country: Philippines
Food/ beverage: Lechon (Roast Pig)
The Philippines is known worldwide for its Christmas celebrations. The festivities begin on December 16th, although the daily twilight masses begin and continue until Christmas Day. On Christmas Day, a festive dinner with many delicious dishes is served in the evening. A whole roasted pig (Lechon) is often the center of attention at Christmas dinner. Many other Philippine favorites are also served, such as oxtail stew, Quesco de bolo (cheese) and flan. If you’re fascinated by Philippine culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Philippine holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in the Philippines is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this Lechon (Roast Pig) recipe. It may not be an easy student recipe, but it can be a thought-provoking impulse for a joint cooking project with friends or family.
Day 26
Country: New Zealand
Food/ beverage: Pavlova
In the southern hemisphere, where the Christmas days fall in the summertime, the traditional dishes are often light and sweeter than the heavy cold weather food from the north. A very popular and traditional Christmas food from New Zealand is a fluffy meringue dessert called Pavlova. In the traditional New Zealand Pavlova recipe, the dessert is topped with kiwi fruits, although there are many different variations that top the dessert with different fruits and chocolate. A wonderful dessert that will make any cake lover's mouth water. If you’re fascinated by New Zealand culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional New Zealand holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in New Zealand is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Pavlova recipe.
Day 25
Country: India
Food/ beverage: Traditional Biryani
There are almost 30 million Christians living in India, which makes about 2% of the population, while the majority of the population is Hindu. Nevertheless, Kerala people, for example, celebrate Christmas by going from house to house and dancing together, in which Hindus and Muslims also participate. They celebrate together, share sweets and sing carols collectively. A common Indian winter food is Hyderabadi chicken biryani. It is an aromatic and authentic dish with juicy chicken, fluffy rice, fragrant spices and fried onions. If you’re fascinated by Indian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Indian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in India is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy traditional biryani recipe.
Day 24
Country: Greece
Food/ beverage: Melomakarona
Christmas is an important holiday in Greece and is celebrated in many different ways. Many of the people, who are very religious, fast before Christmas. On Christmas, Lent is ended and good food is eaten. A traditional sweet that is always found on the table is Melomakarona, a sweet cookie soaked in honey and topped with ground walnuts. They cover the whole house with beautiful Christmas scents like orange, honey, cinnamon and gloves. Enjoy the delicious cookies and get into the Christmas mood. If you’re fascinated by Greek culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Greek holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Greece is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Melomakarona recipe.
Recipe: Easy Melomakarona recipe… even for students
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Day 23
Country: Japan
Food/ beverage: Kabocha Soup
In Japan, the winter sun festival is called Toji. The traditional food for this festival consists mostly of Kabocha pumpkins. This also has a historical background, because these autumn vegetables can be stored well without refrigeration, which has made them a staple of the Japanese winter diet. The creamy Kabocha soup tastes very good and is especially delicious as a dipping sauce for bread. If you’re fascinated by Japanese culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Japanese holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Japan is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Kabocha Soup recipe.
Day 22
Country: Poland
Food/ beverage: Babka
One of the most popular Christmas foods in Poland is Babka, a kind of sweet bread that can be found everywhere during the Christmas season. Babka is indispensable for Christmas dinner and is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve - the feast begins with the breaking of the bread after a long day of fasting. Another nice Polish tradition is to set a place for another person in case a lonely traveller passes by who does not know where to stay during the holidays. The Christmas meal is often meatless and consists of staple foods such as boiled potatoes, herrings with cream and soups. If you’re fascinated by Polish culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Polish holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Poland is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Babka recipe.
Day 21
Country: Egypt
Food/ beverage: Belila
For Egypt, we present you a traditional winter dish. In contrast to most of the dishes presented so far, it is a meal that is eaten for breakfast, or as a late night snack. Belila is an old-school Egypt dish with a type of wheat porridge. The whole wheat grains are soaked in sweetened milk and then served with toasted nuts, raisins, honey or whatever topping strikes your fancy (clotted cream is another popular one). If you’re fascinated by Egyptian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Egyptian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Egypt is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Belila recipe.
Day 20
Country: Argentina
Food/ beverage: Vitel Tone
In Argentina, white Christmas is hardly known, so it is most likely to meet in the backyard and enjoy the day with your loved ones. Many turn on the barbecue and additionally serve Vitel Toné. Vitello tonnato started to appear in cookbooks in the northern region of Piedmont. This is the region where tuna was canned, but also where oil, lemons and capers, other ingredients of tonnato sauce, were traded. At the time, tuna was actually considered a condiment. Even though it is a dish with a big tradition and a lot of history, there is not one recipe of vitel tone but a lot of different ones based on the basic recipe. If you’re fascinated by Argentinean culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Argentinean holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Argentina is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Vitel Toné recipe.
Day 19
Country: Latvia
Food/ beverage: Piragi - Bacon Buns
In Latvia, the winter solstice used to be celebrated during the Christmas season, and it was only with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the associated lifting of the ban on church membership that traditional Christian Christmas customs returned. Since many Latvians, however, have no church connection to Christmas, they rather celebrate being together, giving friends and neighbors gingerbread and pretty Christmas cards. The food in Latvia is very traditional and, above all, rich: black sausages with sauerkraut, vegetables such as beans and peas, a porridge made of barley, onions and bacon, the ‘piragi’ (a bacon cake) or even fish come here on the Christmas table. During the evening and night, the guests sit down at the table nine times and enjoy nine different dishes. And whoever eats nine times should become rich and happy in the coming year! Today we present Piragi - Latvian Bacon Buns - which are traditionally on the Christmas table. If you’re fascinated by Latvian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Latvian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Latvia is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Piragi recipe.
Day 18
Country: Thailand
Food/ beverage: Stir fried pumpkin
Thailand is a country with just about 1% of Christians, so there are no traditional Christmas dishes. In addition, Thailand is located in a region where it is nice and warm almost all year round. Nevertheless, some food has established itself that will keep you warm even in cold temperatures. Today we introduce you to stir fried pumpkin as a wintery dish. It's a classic Thai recipe, easy to prepare and high in vitamins and beta-carotene, a natural anti-oxidant widely reported for its health benefits. If you’re fascinated by Thai culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Thai holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Thailand is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Stir fried pumpkin recipe.
Day 17
Country: Russia
Food/ beverage: Deviled eggs
Russian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7. In Russia Christmas is the second most important religious holiday after Easter. After the October Revolution of 1917, Christmas, like many other religious festivals, was no longer allowed to be celebrated. The tradition was lost and many customs were forgotten. Christmas became an official holiday in Russia in 1991. But a still very popular and well-known recipe are deviled eggs. Deviled eggs sound a little satanic, but these divine little eggs are an absolute genius of a dish and ridiculously easy to make. The first record of this dish (also known as Russian eggs or stuffed/dressed eggs) was during the Roman era, where they boiled and seasoned eggs to serve as appetizers for wealthy members of the Roman society. Today, deviled eggs are very popular across European and North American countries, and are often made by stuffing hard-boiled eggs with a mouth-watering mixture of other ingredients such as mayonnaise and mustard, spices, pickles, cheese, and meats or seafood. If you’re fascinated by Russian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Russian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Russian is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy deviled egg recipe.
Day 16
Country: Australia
Food/ beverage: Christmas Ham
In any case, one finds some similarities between the Christmas celebrations in Australia, England and America. Nevertheless, the warm weather makes the Christmas season a very special experience. Australian Christmas cuisine has left its own mark on European recipes, such as pudding and mince pies. On the one hand you can spend Christmas dinner on the veranda or in the living room with your family. A traditional Christmas dish is the ham. Baked apple or cranberry sauce accompanies the finger-licking meat and crackling. It often takes several hours until the sweet and smoky meat is cooked in the oven and you can finally carve it. There are many individual family dishes of ham. However, honey, maple, pineapple or apricot are usually used for the glazing. If you’re fascinated by Australian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Australian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Australia is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Christmas Ham recipe.
Day 15
Country: USA
Food/ beverage: Christmas Jello Salad Ring
In the USA in December with the Christmas celebration a large celebration is around the corner. In the pre-Christmas period, the stores are full, the houses and towns are beautifully decorated. A highlight is the opportunity to ice skate in front of the Rockefeller Center! Of course, Christmas also includes a feast. Since turkey is also very popular on Thanksgiving, we have decided to introduce the Christmas Jello Salad Ring, which is also a very popular Christmas dish in the USA. However, the original recipe is only suitable for adults as the different layers are soaked with alcohol. The dish is also known as one of the noblest jello puddings of all time. If you’re fascinated by US culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional American holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in the US is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Christmas ‘Jello’ Salad Ring recipe.
Recipe: Easy Christmas ‘jello’ salad ring recipe… even for students
Day 14
Country: South Africa
Food/ beverage: Braai
A widely practiced tradition in South African culture is that of the braai — cooking meat over an open flame. Whether celebrating a holiday or just a Sunday afternoon, you can almost often find South Africans throwing chicken, lamb, boerewors — a type of sausage — sweetbreads, and other meats onto the grill. South Africans generally use wood and charcoal to cook their meat, wood being the better method because it brings out the best flavours in the meat. It is often made in winter time. If you’re fascinated by South African culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional South African holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in South Africa is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Braai recipe.
Day 13
Country: Colombia
Food/ beverage: Buñuelos
Colombian buñuelos or cheese fritters, are a mouthful of textures and flavors. They have a soft crumb and a crispy crust with a hint of sweetness and are a typical Colombian Christmas treat, but they are also popular year round for breakfast with hot chocolate or coffee. On December 7th in Colombia, friends get together to celebrate “el dia e las velitas”, a Christmas tradition in honor of the Virgin Mary. They light candles in front of their houses or on their balconies, cook traditional Christmas treats, like Natilla, Buñuelos and Hojuelas and of course, they party. Traditionally they are made with Costeño cheese (Queso Costeño) which is a Colombian white cheese that is a little saltier and harder that Queso Fresco. If you’re fascinated by Colombian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Colombian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Colombia is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Buñuelos recipe.
Day 12
Country: Germany
Food/ beverage: Mulled wine – Glühwein
In Germany, many Christmas markets are set up in different cities during the Christmas season - the Christkindelmarkt in Nuremberg is particularly well-known internationally. Besides many stalls for food, small presents and carousels, the main attraction is the mulled wine, which is drank from decorated, sometimes bootshaped mugs. Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is a beverage usually made with red wine along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins. It is served hot or warm and is alcoholic, although there are non-alcoholic versions of it. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas. It is served at Christmas markets in Europe. Mulled wine is drunk not only on the Christmas markets, but also at home, particularly on the Christmas days. If you’re fascinated by German culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional German holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Germany is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Glühwein (mulled wine) recipe.
Recipe: Easy Glühwein (mulled wine) recipe… even for students
Day 11
Country: China
Food/ beverage: Whole fish and uncut noodles
For our feature on China we present you a typical New Year's Eve meal – whole fish and uncut noodles. This food is rich with symbolism: Chinese people always like to have a surplus at the end of the year, because they think if they have managed to save something at the end of the year, then they can make more in the next year. Both are believed to aid in longevity — the longer the noodles, the longer your life. The fish can have different meanings, on one hand the Chinese word for crucian carp sounds similar to the word good luck and on the other hand the first part of the Chinese for "mud carp" is pronounced like the word for gifts. There are also a few rules related to the position of the fish get information about Chinese New Years Eve culture. If you’re fascinated by Chinese culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Chinese holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in China is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy whole fish and uncut noodles recipe.
Recipe: Easy whole fish and uncut noodles recipe… even for students
Day 10
Country: Israel
Food/ beverage: Latkes
In Judaism, Hanukkah is celebrated over several days which usually fall in the month of December. The story of Hanukkah refers to the liberation of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 3597 (165 B.C.). The menorah, the seven-armed candlestick in the temple, was never to go out. According to the later tradition, due to the fights with the Seleucids, only a jar of consecrated oil was left. This oil was enough for just one day. For the production of new consecrated oil eight days are needed. By a miracle, however, the light burned for eight days until new consecrated oil was produced. The eight lights of the 8 or 9-armed Chanukkia chandelier remind us of this. Every day one more light is lit until all eight burn at the end. Hanukkah is primarily a domestic festival. On the Hanukkah evenings, families gather with friends to enjoy the festivities. Community celebrations are common, and the children are given gifts and sweets. The main dishes eaten are dishes baked in oil such as sufganiyot (doughnuts) or latkes (potato pancakes) and other specialties of Jewish cuisine. If you’re fascinated by Jewish culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Jewish holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Israel is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Latkes recipe.
Day 9
Country: The Netherlands
Food/ beverage: Oliebollen
Oliebollen are a variety of dumpling made by using an ice cream scoop or two spoons to scoop a certain amount of dough and dropping the dough into a deep fryer filled with hot oil. In this way, a sphere-shaped oliebol emerges. Oliebollen are traditionally eaten on New Year's Eve and at ‘fun-fairs’. In wintertime, they are also sold in the street at mobile stalls. The origins of oliebollen are not entirely clear. They are said by some to have been first eaten by Germanic tribes in Belgium and the Netherlands during the Yule, the period between December 26 and January 6 where such baked goods were used. It has also been speculated that they were introduced to the Netherlands in the 15th century by Portuguese Sephardi Jewish immigrants; the food being related to the Jewish sufganiyah traditionally eaten on Hanukkah. If you’re fascinated by Dutch culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Dutch holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in the Netherlands is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Oliebollen recipe.
Day 8
Country: Ethiopia
Food/ beverage: A stew of chicken, beef or other meat
Many people take part in a special Advent fast during the 43 days before Christmas. It starts on 25th November and is known as the 'Fast of the Prophets' (Tsome Nebiyat). During this time, traditionally only one vegan meal is eaten each day. A vegan meal is served because during the fast, foods including meat, dairy, eggs and wine aren't eaten. Traditional Christmas foods in Ethiopia include 'wat' which is a thick and spicy stew that contains meat, vegetables and sometimes eggs. Wat is eaten on a plate of 'injera' - a flat bread. Pieces of the injera are used as an edible spoon to scoop up the wat. If you’re fascinated by Ethiopian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Ethiopian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Ethiopia is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Stew of chicken, beef or other meat recipe.
Recipe: Easy Stew of chicken, beef or other meat recipe… even for students
Day 7
Country: Serbia
Food/ beverage: Pogača
Pogača is a type of bread baked in the ashes of the fireplace, and later on in the oven, similar to focaccia, with which it shares the name (via Byzantine Greek: πογάτσα), found in the cuisines of the Carpathian Basin, the Balkans, and Turkey. It can be leavened or unleavened, but only experienced cooks can make good-quality unleavened pogača, while the pastry with yeast is easier to make. A coin is traditionally baked into the bread. The bread is divided among the family members and the person who finds the coin in his piece will be lucky next year. By the way, Christmas is celebrated in Serbia on the 7th of January. If you’re fascinated by Serbian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Serbian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Serbia is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy pogača recipe.
Day 6
Country: Turkey
Food/ beverage: Boza
The 6th of December is an important Christian holiday and it is about St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas Church is an ancient East Roman basilica church in the ancient city of Myra, now a museum located in modern Demre in Turkey. It was built above the burial place of St. Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian bishop of Myra, an important religious figure for Eastern Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics and the historical inspiration for Santa Claus. Since the majority of the Turkish population is Muslim, reference is made here to a winter drink, which is very famous and common in Turkey. Boza is a traditional Turkish winter drink, originally brewed from millet. However, all kinds of cereals are used. Lactic acid and ethanol are produced during fermentation and the finished product contains between 0.6 and 1% alcohol. The quality of the portions varies, as the fermenting agent is quite heterogeneous in the proportions of bacteria/ yeast. Depending on the variant, extra sweetening is also used. Boza has, depending on its consistency, a white-brown color and a (viscous) liquid consistency. The drink is very nutritious and is offered at a reasonable price. It has a sweet and tangy flavor that everyone finds addictive! If you’re fascinated by Turkish culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Turkish holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Turkey is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Boza recipe.
Day 5
Country: France
Food/ beverage: le réveillon de Noël meal
The culinary highlight of the French year is not for most families on Christmas Day, but late on Christmas Eve, and it traditionally begins once everyone has returned from midnight mass. The feast is called ‘le réveillon de Noël, meaning ‘awakening’ or ‘wake up’ of Noel, because it normally goes on until the early hours of the morning. Traditionally there will be plenty of fish and seafood – cavier, mussels, lobster, and even foie gras and coquilles saint jacques. If you’re fascinated by French culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional French holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in France is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with one of these easy le réveillon de Noël recipes.
Recipe: Easy Seafood (Le Reveillon) recipe… even for students
Day 4
Country: Puerto Rico (USA)
Food/ beverage: Coquito
Background: Coquito meaning ‘Little Coconut’ in Spanish is a traditional Christmas drink that originated in Puerto Rico. The coconut-based alcoholic beverage is similar to eggnog, sometimes being called the Puerto Rican Eggnog. The traditional Christmas drink, Coquito, was originally found in Puerto Rico. However, drinks similar to Coquito can be found all throughout the Caribbean. There are two different theories about the origin of the drink. Some believe the person who created Coquito is unknown along with how the recipe began. Others say that the Puerto Rican drink was brought to the Caribbean by the Spanish during Puerto Rico's colonial period. If you’re fascinated by Puerto Rican culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Puerto Rican holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Puerto Rico (USA) is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Coquito recipe.
Day 3
Country: Sweden
Food/ beverage: Risgrynsgröt (rice pudding)
Background: In Sweden, rice pudding has long been a part of the Christmas tradition. It is made as a warm dish from rice cooked in milk. When served, it is commonly sprinkled with cinnamon, sugar and a small knob of butter, and served with milk or fruit juice. A particular Christmas tradition that is often associated with eating rice pudding or porridge is hiding a whole almond in the porridge. In Sweden, popular belief has it that the one who eats the almond will be in luck the following year. If you’re fascinated by Swedish culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Swedish holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Sweden is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy Risgrynsgröt (rice Pudding) recipe.
Day 2
Country: Italy
Food/ beverage: Feast of the Seven Fishes
Background: The Feast of the Seven Fishes is part of the Italian-American Christmas Eve celebration, although it is not called that in Italy and is not a "feast" in the sense of "holiday," but rather a grand meal. Christmas Eve is a vigil or fasting day, and the abundance of seafood reflects the observance of abstinence from meat until the feast of Christmas Day itself. The meal's components may include some combination of anchovies, whiting, lobster, sardines, baccalà (dried salt cod), smelts, eels, squid, octopus, shrimp, mussels and clams. The menu may also include pasta, vegetables, baked goods and wine. If you’re fascinated by Italian culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional Italian holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in Italy is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with some of these easy Feast of the Seven Fishes recipe.
Recipe: Easy feast of the Seven Fishes recipe… even for students
Day 1
Country: England
Food/ beverage: Mince Pies
Background: A mince pie is a sweet pie of English origin, filled with a mixture of dried fruits and spices called ‘mincemeat’, and is traditionally served during the Christmas season in many English-speaking countries. Its ingredients are traceable to the 13th century, when returning European crusaders brought with them Middle Eastern recipes containing meats, fruits and spices, such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. If you’re fascinated by British culture, and you’d like to experience this traditional British holiday treat, then maybe a study abroad semester in the UK is perfect for you. But before you make such a big commitment, maybe try it out yourself at home with this easy mince pie recipe.
