Festival food
Made for a festival or a public holiday.
Chocolate
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast and 5 moreA sweet or bitter food made from processed cocoa beans, enjoyed in many forms worldwide
Sweet or dessert, Snacks
Halvaحَلَاوَة
🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreDense sweet made from seeds, grains, or vegetables, found across Asia, Africa, and Europe
Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time
Samosa
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreFried or baked pastry with a spiced filling, shaped into triangles or cones
Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Lunch
BaklavaVegetarianباقلوا
🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreThin pastry filled with nuts and soaked in sweet syrup
Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks
CaviarFish or seafood
🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreSalt-cured fish roe, most prized from sturgeon of the Caspian and Black Sea
Sauce, pickle or ferment, Snacks
Hot chocolate
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreA warm drink made from chocolate or cocoa, milk or water, and sugar
Drink, Breakfast, Snacks
Easter egg
🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreEggs dyed or decorated for Easter, symbolizing resurrection and new life
Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks
SauerkrautVegan
🇩🇪 Germany and 5 moreFinely shredded cabbage preserved by natural fermentation in salt
Sauce, pickle or ferment, Lunch, Dinner
French toast
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreBread soaked in egg and milk, pan-fried and served sweet or savoury
Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks
MarzipanVegetarian
🇩🇪 Germany and 5 moreSweet almond paste shaped or used in cakes, especially at Christmas and weddings
Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time
GuacamoleVegan
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreAvocado mashed with lime, salt, and herbs, served as a dip or spread
Sauce, pickle or ferment, Snacks, Lunch
Blood sausageMeat
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreA sausage made with animal blood, fillers and spices, cooked or dried until firm
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
PretzelVegetarian
🇩🇪 Germany and 4 moreA baked knot-shaped bread, often topped with salt or seeds
Bread, Snacks
Pancake
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreFlat cakes made from batter, cooked on a griddle or pan and served sweet or savoury
Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks
Olivier saladсалат Оливье
🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreA Russian salad of diced vegetables, meat and mayonnaise, served at festive meals
Salad or side, Dinner, Lunch
Pie
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreA baked dish with a pastry crust and sweet or savoury filling
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
SachertorteVegetarian
🇦🇹 Austria and 1 moreAustrian chocolate sponge cake with apricot jam and a glossy chocolate glaze
Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks
Crêpe
🇫🇷 FranceThin French pancakes, served sweet or savoury with a range of fillings
Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch
JalebiVegetarian
🇮🇳 India and 6 moreDeep-fried spirals of batter soaked in syrup, enjoyed across Asia and Africa
Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Snacks
Turkish delightVegan
🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreSoft, chewy cubes of starch and sugar, often flavored or filled with nuts or fruit
Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time
BhangVeganभांग
🇮🇳 IndiaCannabis leaf paste used in drinks and sweets, central to Indian spring festivals
Drink, Snacks
Dabo koloVegetarianዳቦ ቆሎ
🇪🇹 Ethiopia and 2 moreSmall spiced fried dough pieces served as a snack in Ethiopia and Eritrea
Street food, Snacks
Puto bumbóngVegetarian
🇵🇭 PhilippinesPurple Filipino rice cake steamed in bamboo tubes for Christmas
Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks
Qamar al-DinVeganقمر الدين
🇸🇾 Syria and 3 moreThick apricot fruit leather and drink, especially served during Ramadan
Drink, Snacks
Misalमिसळ
🇮🇳 IndiaSpicy sprouted bean curry layered with toppings, served hot with bread
Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks
BreadfruitVegan
🇵🇭 Philippines and 4 moreLarge tropical fruit cooked as a starchy staple in many island cuisines
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
TihloMeatጥሕሎ
🇪🇹 EthiopiaBarley dough balls served with spicy meat stew from Tigray, Ethiopia
Main dish, Snacks, Lunch
SimaVegan
🇫🇮 FinlandFinnish sparkling lemon drink, lightly fermented and sweet
Drink, Snacks
Jolpan
🇮🇳 IndiaAssamese breakfast snacks of rice, pitha, and sweets, often served with tea or curd
Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks
BorhaniVegetarianবোরহানী
🇧🇩 BangladeshA spiced yoghurt drink from Bangladesh, often served at weddings and festivals
Drink, Dinner, Snacks
Sheer khurmaVegetarianشير خرما
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreA sweet vermicelli pudding with milk, dates and nuts for Eid celebrations
Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks
Hanukkah geltVegetarianחנוכה געלט / דמי חנוכה
🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreChocolate coins or money given as gifts during Hanukkah
Sweet or dessert, Snacks
Mulled wineGlühwein
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreRed wine heated with spices and fruit, served hot at Christmas and winter gatherings
Drink, Tea time, Dinner
Nachos
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreTortilla chips topped with melted cheese and a mix of savory garnishes
Main dish, Snacks, Lunch
Börek
🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreFlaky pastry filled with cheese, meat or vegetables, baked or fried
Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Lunch
Churrochurros
🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreRidged, deep-fried dough sticks often eaten hot with chocolate or coffee
Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks
KhachapuriVegetarianხაჭაპური
🇬🇪 Georgia and 4 moreLeavened bread filled with cheese, sometimes egg, from Georgia
Bread, Breakfast, Lunch
Punchपंच
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreA party drink of fruit juice, sweetener, and sometimes alcohol, served in a large bowl
Drink, Snacks
MacaronVegetarian
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreAlmond meringue sandwich cookie with a creamy or jam filling
Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time
Mooncake月饼 / 月餅
🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA round Chinese pastry with sweet or nutty filling, eaten at the Mid-Autumn Festival
Pie or savoury pastry, Tea time, Snacks
Potato pancakeVegetarian
🇧🇾 Belarus and 5 moreShallow-fried pancakes made from grated or mashed potato, common across Europe
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
Cinnamon rollVegetarian
🇸🇪 Sweden and 4 moreA sweet rolled bun with cinnamon and sugar, baked and often topped with icing
Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Tea time
FocacciaVegetarian
🇮🇹 Italy and 1 moreItalian flatbread baked with olive oil and often herbs or salt
Bread, Breakfast, Snacks
Pierogi
🇵🇱 Poland and 6 moreDumplings of unleavened dough filled with savory or sweet mixtures
Dumpling, Lunch, Dinner
SharbatVeganشربت
🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreSweet fruit or flower drink, served chilled or as a syrup
Drink, Snacks
Croquette
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreA deep-fried roll with a creamy or starchy filling, coated in breadcrumbs
Street food, Snacks, Lunch
AspicMeat
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreMeat or fish set in savoury gelatin, served cold as an appetizer or festive dish
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
PuriVegan
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreUnleavened wheat flatbread, deep-fried until puffed and golden
Bread, Breakfast, Snacks
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Cinnamon roll: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Sachertorte: Hellokitty893112 at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, source
- French toast: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Olivier salad: Jacek Halicki, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Jalebi: Gpkp, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Macaron: M0tty, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mulled wine: JJ Georges, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Guacamole: Popo le Chien, CC0, source
- Dabo kolo: Jongenelen, R.G.L., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Qamar al-Din: Galjundi7, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bhang: Reuben Strayer, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tihlo: Rod Waddington, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Pie: Peggy Greb, Public domain, source
- Nachos: Navajcmer, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Samosa: kspoddar, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Turkish delight: c.berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Baklava: Sakaman, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Marzipan: James Petts, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Pretzel: LenaRaisch, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Crêpe: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Croquette: Jonathan Pincas, CC BY 2.0, source
- Chocolate: formulatehealth, CC BY 2.0, source
- Pancake: Brandon Martin-Anderson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Sauerkraut: Annakareninerussie, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hot chocolate: 4028mdk09, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Sharbat: fa:User:دانقولا, Public domain, source
- Punch: Shawn Lea, CC BY 2.0, source
- Churro: Garry Knight, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Focaccia: Fred Benenson, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Breadfruit: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Sima: mako, CC BY 2.0, source
- Hanukkah gelt: liz west, CC BY 2.0, source
- Puto bumbóng: Judgefloro, CC0, source
- Misal: Nick Gray, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Jolpan: Floris van Dyck, Public domain, source
- Borhani: DarkSpartan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Börek: Silar, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Potato pancake: Photo made by Daniel Spils and uploaded to flickr.com, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Aspic: Gmelfi, Public domain, source
- Mooncake: Lybil BER, CC BY-SA 3.0, source