This year, we take a closer look at the festive customs of Roo Fenwick, a student writer for the College, and his roommates Joel Petersson and Makary Adamek. As they prepared to head home for the holidays, they shared their traditions, highlighting the differences and unique elements of their celebrations.
Roo Fenwick - Scotland
Senior Roo Fenwick, a student writer from Scotland, gave us a taste of his homeland's holiday traditions.
"A traditional Christmas in Scotland is similar to the United States in terms of food," Fenwick said. "A Christmas day meal consists of turkey, ham, or beef. The sides may vary from household to household, but the popular sides include broccoli and cauliflower in cheese sauce. Brits love their gravy and will put it with pretty much anything (brown gravy, that is), and the best accompaniment with it is a classic Yorkshire pudding."
He elaborated on the typical vegetables and desserts enjoyed during the festive meal: "All the vegetables are standard, which include peas, carrots, and of course, you can’t miss out on the mashed and/or roast potatoes. For dessert, it is always cheesecake, trifle, or my favorite, sticky toffee pudding. We celebrate everything on the 25th, with normally a few glasses of wine or whisky the night before."
Scottish Christmas traditions have evolved over time, influenced by both ancient pagan practices and modern Christian celebrations. Despite Christmas being banned in Scotland for nearly 400 years due to the Reformation, many traditions have persisted. The inclusion of dishes like Yorkshire pudding and sticky toffee pudding reflects the blend of historical and contemporary customs.
Joel Petersson - Sweden
Unlike his roommate Roo, senior Joel Petersson from Sweden brought to light the unique Swedish way of celebrating Christmas on Dec. 24.
"In Sweden, we celebrate Christmas Day on the 24th. I thought everybody did!" Petersson said. "We will open stockings in the morning, followed by Santa coming midday around when the food is ready to be eaten (for the kids)."
He describes the traditional Swedish Christmas feast.
"On Christmas Day (24th) we will eat pickled herring, beetroot salad, and smoked salmon, followed by rice pudding. To wash it down, we normally drink glögg, which is sort of a mulled wine. On the 25th, this is when we would eat a more traditional American-style meal, with all of the standard meat and veg. This day though, is predominantly surrounded more with fun and drinking. The proper traditionalists will also eat on the 26th, just to make the most of the festive period."
Petersson also shares a charming tradition that adds to the festive atmosphere in Swedish homes.
"Often, Swedish gnomes are present around the house and on trees, instead or along with the presence of stars," he said, bringing a touch of Swedish charm to their dorm.
Swedish Christmas traditions, known as "Jul," are deeply rooted in family and community. The celebration begins with Advent, marked by lighting candles and decorating with stars. The feast on Christmas Eve, or "Julafton," is the main event, featuring a variety of traditional dishes and the custom of drinking glögg.
Makary Adamek - Poland
Senior Makary Adamek from Poland brings his own set of traditions to the mix, celebrating Christmas on the 24th with a variety of Polish dishes.
"In Poland, we do not eat any sort of turkey, stuffing, etc. Similar to Sweden and other European countries, we celebrate everything on the 24th, with the 25th being a relaxed and chill day after plenty of eating and drinking," Adamek said.
He elaborates on the unique dishes that make up the Polish Christmas feast.
"On the 24th, we eat variations of our Polish pierogies, alongside Greek-style fish and bki. My personal favorite is barszcz czerwony z uszkuki, which is a sort of red soup filled with vegetables and potatoes. We do eat a lot of soup, with a creamy mushroom also a popular pick. Many love carp; however, it is a really different sort of fish that is not for me. To finish off, for dessert, we will have piernik, which really tastes like gingerbread. We do not tend to celebrate Christmas for more than one day, but we do make the most of everything on the 24th!"
Adamek also highlights the importance of Christmas markets in big Polish cities like Krakow or Warsaw, where people can purchase any item they need, as well as food and drink options.
"They take this very seriously, and it is a big deal. You can purchase any item you need, as well as food or drink options. Also, the Christmas tree is a big deal across there. I understand that is similar to the U.S., but it holds a big meaning and is normally set up on Christmas Eve," he said.
Polish Christmas traditions are centered around Christmas Eve, known as "Wigilia," which is the most important day of the celebration. The meal typically includes 12 dishes, symbolizing the 12 apostles or months of the year. Traditional foods like pierogi and barszcz are staples, and the festive atmosphere is enhanced by the vibrant Christmas markets.
