by Hope Lee

Created on: December 21, 2008   Last Updated: February 07, 2009

Ideas of what "should" be served for Christmas dinner are indoctrinated in us from a young age. Although slightly more flexible in menu than Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner has a strong traditional menu. For those looking to break out of their Christmas traditions, here are some ideas:

*Explore another culture's or area's traditional Christmas foods. Christmas traditions are strongly rooted in geography and cultural ancestry. Therefore, a nontraditional menu can consist of entirely traditional foods from another area of the world. A floor-mate in college had a family who celebrated Christmas according to a different country's Christmas tradition each year.

While going all out into full immersion into a different culture's traditions may not be for you, it can be helpful to consider borrowing food ideas from another culture. One example of foods from another culture shares Filipino Christmas traditions. However, international Christmas traditions are not the only ones out there. Many different regions in the United States also have varying traditions, so check them out! You might wind up eating clam chowder or crab on Christmas! The nice thing about doing something non-traditional is that you can mix and match foods based on your own preferences. And, you can reject traditions that don't fit your fancy- Eskimos consider whale blubber a Christmas treat!

*Explore Christmas foods from another era. Christmas traditions, in spite of the fact that we might hear "we've always done it that way," do change over time. Foods from another era are a nice change of pace. Food Timeline offers ideas for Medieval, Victorian, Bethlehem, and German Christmas menus. Another idea would be to have a "pioneer" Christmas, where everything has to be made from scratch (and cooked over the fire?).

*Appetizers. My husband and I have found great non-traditional Christmas feast in creating a spread of appetizers. Some years we cook them ourselves, while other years we stop by Sam's Club and see what looks tasty. They fill our bellies but are a break out of the ordinary. They are also faster and easier to make than a full Christmas feast.

*Do what works for you! Make your favorite foods. Get the whole family involved, and let each child pick out a dish to make. Who cares if they don't match? It will be memorable, tasty, and all your own.

As you prepare your Christmas menu this year, break out of tradition and try something new. Who knows? You might create a new tradition of your own!

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