extractedfromwiki
Thanksgiving
ThecenterpieceofcontemporaryThanksgivingintheUnitedStatesisalargemeal,generallycenteredaroundalargeroastedturkey.NontraditionalfoodsotherthanturkeyaresometimesservedasthemaindishforaThanksgivingdinner.Gooseandduck,foodswhichweretraditionalEuropeancenterpiecesofChristmasdinnersbeforebeingdisplacedbyham,arenowsometimesservedinplaceoftheThanksgivingturkey.
Christmas
ThetraditionalChristmasdinnerisaverypopularceremony.ItisusuallyverysimilartotheThanksgivingfeastwhereturkey,ham,andstuffingareserved.Savorytreatsremindusofhomeandfamily.SweetdessertsareexceptionallyimportanttotheChristmasseason.
Sugarcookiesareareallypopulartreatatholidaytime.GingerbreadmenandcandycanesarealsosuperadditionstotheChristmasplate.Fudge,fruitcake,applecider,andpumpkinpiealsosparkmemoriesofwonderfultimesduringtheholiday.MostfoodpreparedduringtheChristmasseasoniseasytomakeandevenmorefuntoeat.AlargeportionofthefoodsweeatduringtheseasoncomefromEuropeantraditions,especiallythoseinEngland.Figpudding(or“figgypudding”)isacommondessertthathasbeenservedthroughouttheregionforcenturiesandisalsopopularinAmerica.
Halloween
Becausetheholidaycomesinthewakeoftheannualappleharvest,candyapples(alsoknownastoffee,taffyorcaramelapples)areacommonHalloweentreatmadebyrollingwholeapplesinastickysugarsyrup,andsometimesrollingtheminnuts.Atonetime,candyappleswerecommonlygiventochildren,butthepracticerapidlywanedinthewakeofwidespreadrumorsthatsomeindividualswereembeddingitemslikepinsandrazorbladesintheapples.
Otherfoodsassociatedwiththeholiday:
Candycorn
BáirínBreac(Ireland)
Colcannon(Ireland)
Bonfiretoffee(intheUK)
ToffeeApple(Australiawhencelebrated,England,WalesandScotland,insteadof"CandyApples")
Applecider
Cider
Roastedsweetcorn
Popcorn
Roastedpumpkinseeds
Pumpkinpieandpumpkinbread
"Fun-sized"orindividuallywrappedpiecesofsmallcandy,typicallyinHalloweencolorsoforange,andbrown/black.
Noveltycandyshapedlikeskulls,pumpkins,bats,worms,etc.
Smallbagsofchips,pretzelsandcheesecorn
Chocolates,caramels,andgum
Nuts
Easter
Althoughcoloredhard-boiledeggsareprobablythefirstEasterfoodtocometomind,otherfoodsfactorintothetraditionalEastermealsaroundtheworld.
HotCrossBunsareanEasterfavoriteinmanyareas.ThetraditionallegedlyisderivedfromancientAnglo-Saxonswhobakedsmallwheatcakesinhonorofthespringtimegoddess,Eostre.AfterconvertingtoChristianity,thechurchsubstitutedthecakeswithsweetbreadsblessedbythechurch.
Countriesaroundtheworldservesweetcakesinthesamevein,suchasCzechbabobkaandPolishbaba.TheGreeksandPortugeseserveround,flatloavesmarkedwithacrossanddecoratedwithEastereggs.SyrianandJordanianChristianshavehoneypastries.
TheroastlambdinnerthatmanyeatonEasterSundaygoesbackearlierthanEastertothefirstPassoveroftheJewishpeople.Thesacrifi