Christmas special: Vedanta boss gives desi twist to celebrations; Debjani Ghosh makes 2022's ultimate discovery

Considered to be a Christmas eve recipe, the Bacalhau is the main dish during Christmas. The word Bacalhau refers to salted and dried cod. It is a delicious cod that is prepared by boiling with potatoes and vegetables. The dish is served with boiled carrots, chickpeas, potatoes, boiled eggs and cloves of garlic.

It is a must-have for Italians during the festive time of Christmas. Cappelletti is small meat-filled pasta that resembles a round dumpling. Sprinkled with the goodness of cheese, the dish is served hot with wine.

In Britain, Christmas is marked by elaborate meals enjoyed with friends and family. Christmas pudding or plum pudding is an important aspect of the traditional Christmas dinner. The pudding is made of raisins, sugar, butter, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and breadcrumbs. According to the custom, before serving the pudding brandy or rum is poured over it and it is set on fire. The pudding is prepared weeks ahead of Christmas to give it time to ripen.

Brazilians are known to celebrate Christmas with the traditional food - Farofa de Natal. It is made of bacon, sausage, olives, and roast turkey. The flavours of smokey bacon are accentuated with sweet carrots, olives, onions and garlic. The aromatic dish is relished with beans, rice, meats and more.

In Venezuela, there is a vibrant tradition of exchanging gifts followed by a sumptuous dinner. Hallacas is the centrepiece of the meals prepared during Christmas. It is a whole chicken, pork shoulder, bacon, and beef - all seasoned, stewed, shredded and wrapped in banana leaves. Hallacas have cultural significance for millions of Venezuelans.

Christmas food is not limited to cakes, meats and beverages in Sweden. The European nation comes with an elaborate meal plan known as the Julbord. The julbord, essentially a Christmas buffet, has an assortment of dishes such as pickled herring, cold meats, dessert, an elaborate fish platter and traditional drinks. The julbord features an assortment of flavours which is a fusion of vegetables, meats, fish and desserts.

It is part of the main course during Christmas in Spain and Latin America. Lechon is essentially an entire roasted pig. The meat is cooked for a long time till it is tender and flavoursome. It is usually served with a gamut of vegetables, sometimes almonds and other sweet dishes. Enjoying Lechon during Christmas is a tradition that dates way back to the 15th century.

Americans enjoy a unique delicacy on Christmas. The sweet and sour roasted ham with pineapple is a delicacy that is integral to dinners during Christmas in the US. While bacon is usually the most preferred meat served during festivities in the US, Christmas in the US is incomplete without scrumptious roasted ham with pineapple.

Yuletide Log also known as Christmas Block is a cake that is a mainstay at dinners in France during Christmas. While there are various ways to make this sponge cake, the most popular way is to coat the sponge cake with chocolate icing. The French believe in making the cake in a way that resembles a wooden log.