With the holiday season  approaching, we start to see different foods, desserts, and holiday treats make a comeback. Many holidays also have different traditions that may use foods and snacks, restaurants and cafès are coming out with their holiday treats, and families are starting to make their special recipes. 

Different countries have many varieties of sweets and meals that are traditional or popular in their nations. For example, French speaking countries like France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Canada eat a popular dessert called bûche de noël. This is more commonly known here as a Yule log. Another example is in Mexico and many other Latin American countries, they have tamales around their holidays. 

Many special holiday traditions involve foods, such as leaving out milk and cookies for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. A traditional food to celebrate Hanukkah include latkes, which are fried potato pancakes. For a meal during Kwanzaa, there are popular foods such as collards and gumbo. Even without specific holidays, the winter season brings many good options for festive foods and drinks, like hot chocolate. 

A few of our Apex High School Students shared what treats they are most looking forward to this season. A common answer was pie, specifically pumpkin or apple. There were also responses such as fudge, apple cinnamon, or peppermint bark. 

Making food at home is not the only way to get a special holiday treat. For example, Starbucks has their winter menu with limited-time drinks like Peppermint Mocha or the new Cran-Merry Drink. Other items include Dunkin’s Cookie Butter Cold Brew or different holiday flavored cookies at Crumbl Cookies. 

Over our winter break, we will also celebrate the start of a new calendar year.  There are also foods surrounding this holiday that are linked with aspirations for the new year. Some people eat different food on New Year’s Day or New Year’s Eve to bring luck, good fortune, and prosperity in the new year. These foods include black eyed peas, grapes, collard greens, or pomegranate. The greens, like collards and cabbage are said to specifically bring the gift of money. Other foods like the black eyed peas, grapes, and pomegranate bring good luck and fortune. 

It doesn’t matter how you celebrate the holidays and winter season, there are plenty of options for a sweet treat or unique food to try this season. Have a wonderful winter break, Cougars!