At A Grade Ahead, we love to celebrate our unique stories and experiences, including cultures! The United States has long been referred to as a “melting pot,” where customs from all around the world combine to create something distinctively American. The dishes we enjoy throughout the holidays are the most wonderful example of this. Each food, from the sweet French Bûche de Noël to the savory (namkeen) Indian samosa, conveys a tale of migration, adaptation, and celebration. Join us for a delicious tour around the world!
Indigenous American Recipes
American holiday meals are shaped by many traditions, including Indigenous foods such as Three Sisters Soup. The main ingredients are corn, beans, and squash, which form the foundation of many recipes, like stews, succotash, and roasted dishes. These ingredients also celebrate community and seasonal harvests. See below for a list of other Indigenous foods that you could try as you celebrate the holiday season.
- Cedar Plank Salmon: Fish cooked slowly on cedar planks
- Wojapi: A sweet berry sauce, sometimes served with salmon or as a dessert
- Stuffed Duck/Turkey: Using wild rice, corn, berries, and nuts for stuffing
- Hominy & Turkey Stew: A hearty, traditional stew
- Pueblo or Piki Bread: Traditional breads from the Southwest
Cultural Recipes from Around the World
We understand that over time, immigrant communities from beyond the United States have traveled here, making it their home. Doing so, they have introduced their own holiday dishes, forming the diverse fabric of American celebrations. See some of the favorites below.
- Latkes: Jewish families brought the tradition of frying potato pancakes in oi during Hanukkah, symbolizing the miracle of lights
- Tamales: Mexican American communities often gather to make tamales at Christmas, a labor of love that brings families together
- Panettone: This sweet bread, filled with raisins and candied fruit, reflects Italian heritage and is now enjoyed widely at Christmas
- Jollof Rice: West African flavors influence Kwanzaa celebrations, highlighting cultural pride and connection
- Diwali Sweets and Lights: Indian-American families celebrate Diwali with sweets (mithai) like ladoo and jalebi, lighting diyas and inviting neighbors to join in the festival of lights
Recipes from Our Own Backyard
As immigrants have become settled in the Unites States, different regions have developed their own cultural foods that have evolved from their original roots. Read more below.
- Southern U.S.: Collard greens and black-eyed peas, often eaten at New Year’s, symbolize prosperity and luck
- Midwest: Scandinavian influences bring dishes like lefse (soft flatbread) and lutefisk to holiday gatherings
- Northeast: Italian-American families serve seafood feasts on Christmas Eve, known as the “Feast of the Seven Fishes”
- Southwest: Posole, a hominy stew, is a traditional Christmas dish with Indigenous and Mexican roots.
Modern Fusion and Moving Forward
America’s holiday foods continue to evolve as time passes, and cultural traditions become more ingrained in our day-to-day life. Have you seen any of these at your holiday celebrations?
- Sushi platters at Christmas parties
- Vegan versions of traditional dishes, like plant-based roasts
- Fusion desserts, such as pumpkin spice tres leches cake
These innovations show how the “melting pot” is not static—it’s constantly simmering with new flavors.
Holiday foods in the United States are more than meals; they are stories of resilience, migration, and community. They remind us that America’s identity is shaped by the traditions of many cultures, each adding its own spice to the pot. When we gather around the holiday table, we honor not only our families but also the generations of those who carried their recipes across guided by hope.
What do you think? Do you celebrate your culture and heritage during the holidays? What are your favorite foods or traditions? We would love to hear from you in the comments! Interested in more? See our previous posts about Winter Holidays Around the World and New Year Traditions from Around the World!
At A Grade Ahead, we love fostering success in our enrichment classes. Call or visit an A Grade Ahead academy near you to get a free curriculum sample, take a free assessment, or sign up for a free trial class today!
Author: Pamela Crum, Teacher Coordinator at A Grade Ahead
