In Latin America it is spicy tamales. In the Czech Republic, a hearty feast of breaded carp. When it comes to Christmas dinner, there are almost as many variations as there are cultures.
Even the steadfast British tradition of turkey with all the trimmings gives way to pancakes in the Netherlands, goose in Germany and fish in Italy.
From meat-free feasts to fish in a "fur coat," here are 10 destinations around the world where people enjoy Christmas dishes that may look very different from your own:
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Germany
Weihnachtsgans, or German Christmas goose, is the traditional bird that anchors family celebrations across the country, though roast duck is also becoming increasingly popular.
"My mom makes Weihnachtsgans every year, still," says Max Hess, a German American who lives in Milwaukee and visits Germany for Christmas every year.
"The German tradition is to give gifts on Christmas Eve rather than on Christmas Day, so we eat the goose and, as soon as it gets dark, we start exchanging presents with friends and family."
The Netherlands
"Gourmetten is a typical Dutch Christmas dinner tradition where a group of people sits around the table and cooks their own little dishes in small pans [on a big hot plate]," says Maartje Frederiks, managing director of the meal delivery group HelloFresh Benelux. It is similar to Swiss and French raclette, though instead of melting cheese on a shared grill, the Dutch cook a variety of meats, fish and vegetables.
"On top of that, the Dutch love to make little omelets or pancakes and round out the experience with different sauces and garlic bread," Frederiks says.
Italy
The Feast of the Seven Fishes, held on Christmas Eve, is an indulgent ritual observed in many parts of Italy and across the Italian American community.
"It is a tradition both my chef Joe Flamm and I grew up with, coming from big Italian American families," says Tony Mantuano, chef and partner of the celebrated Chicago restaurant Spiaggia. "It is important to have seven different 'fishes' prepared seven different ways. The dishes are fried, salted, served in tomato sauce and so on, and served throughout the evening."
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Feasts in some homes can push well past the seven-dish mark, sometimes stretching to 12 or 13 dishes. Even so, there are a few ingredients that are non-negotiable.
"There has to be baccala [salted cod], no question! Calamari too," Mantuano says.
The Philippines
In many parts of Asia, pork is as much a staple as rice, and the Philippines is no exception. Its tropical climate makes it ideal for the family to gather outdoors and pitch in with the lechon, or whole roast pig.
"Cooking the lechon is a bit of an event in itself, from stuffing the pig with onions, lemongrass and garlic to getting the fire going," says Filipino expat and executive chef Carlo Lamagna of Portland's Clyde Common.
"Most of the time, when you do it with family in the Philippines, there are no fancy motorized machines... usually everyone just helps turn the pig, which is skewered on a thick bamboo pole."
Costa Rica
"One of the most authentic Christmas traditions in Costa Rica is making tamales... every family has a secret tamale recipe," says Allan Duarte, banquet manager at the Costa Rica Marriott San Jose. "Every December, tamales are part of our daily diet, and if you visit a tico home (a typical rural Costa Rican house), you will always get a tamale as a gift of hospitality."
Tamales are usually wrapped in banana leaves and stuffed with meat (pork, chicken or beef), garlic, onion, potato, raisins and other ingredients. The tamale tradition can be found all across Latin America, with each country adding its own special twist to the ingredients and customs.
Russia
Easily the most exotic dish on this list, the Russian "herring under a fur coat" is a bright, layered salad enjoyed in many Russian households during the holiday season.
"It is a staple at all of my family's holiday feasts," says Daniel Malak, a Russian American who works in San Francisco. "If you are a pescatarian, open your eyes wide and savor the glory of this cake made of layers of beet, mayonnaise, potato, diced boiled eggs and, of course, herring."
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is known for one of the most joyful and longest Christmas holiday cultures in the world (it begins in late November and runs into early January). Food, of course, plays an essential role in the celebrations.
"As a native of Puerto Rico, one of my favorite dishes to make is arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas)," says Fernando Desa, executive chef at Goya Foods. "The holidays just would not be the same without this classic dish."
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Seasoned with garlic, oregano, tomato sauce, olive oil and other ingredients, this dish is eaten all year round, but it is a must at Christmas.
New Orleans
New Orleans is known for "letting the good times roll" well into the holiday season with its Reveillon dinners, a French family tradition that dates back to the early 19th century.
Originally eaten after midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, any given feast features an abundance of dishes, but the usual suspects are seafood gumbo, soup and game pies.
Although the Reveillon dinner is becoming less popular at home, many hotels in the city offer multi-course meals for travelers and locals alike.
Poland
Pierogi, or dumplings, filled with either mashed potato, cheese or sauerkraut, are a traditional holiday treat in Poland.
"Traditional pierogi are boiled, though these days fried dumplings are becoming more and more popular," says Karolina Patryk, a Pole and travel blogger behind KarolinaPatryk.com. "They are served with a variety of toppings, such as melted butter, fried onion or skwarki: fried, crispy golden bits of pork fat."
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Meat lovers should take note that their Christmas pierogi will not be filled with pork or beef any time soon.
"According to Polish tradition, it is forbidden to eat meat on Wieczerza Wigilijna (Christmas Eve dinner)," says Patryk. Since many people in Poland are devout Catholics, Christmas comes with plenty of dietary restrictions surrounding Advent.
Dominica
The Caribbean island of Dominica, not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, favors a hearty bowl of tripe soup for the holidays.
"Tripe soup is something we really enjoy all year long in Dominica, but it is especially special to many during the Christmas holiday, because every family has its own special recipe," says Rosalie Bay resort manager Darryl Aaron. "Maybe someone likes to add extra stock, or what we call ground provisions, or another family likes to add more oregano. It is warm and cozy, and it is something we all share together."
The Christmas tripe soup reflects the island nation's "whole animal" culture, the practice of eating even the parts of an animal that might normally be thrown away, and it is part of a cuisine that can claim African, Spanish and British influences.
