Creating culturally appropriate content is more important than ever in today’s world. With the rise of social media and the internet, people from all over the world are constantly consuming content from a wide variety of sources.
As a business, it’s important to recognize the diversity of your audience and create content that is respectful and inclusive of different cultures. Here are some tips for creating culturally appropriate content for different audiences.
Research the culture
Before creating any content, it’s important to research the culture you are targeting. This includes understanding their values, customs, and traditions. This will help you avoid any cultural missteps that may offend your audience.
Take the time to learn about their history, language, and social norms. You can do this by reading books, watching documentaries, and talking to people from that culture.
Use inclusive language
Language plays a significant role in how we perceive different cultures. It’s essential to use inclusive language that avoids stereotypes and generalizations. Avoid using language that is derogatory, insensitive, or offensive.
Use language that is respectful and inclusive. This includes using gender-neutral language, avoiding racial slurs, and recognizing the diversity within a culture.
Consider visual imagery
Visual imagery can be a powerful way to communicate culture, but it’s essential to use it carefully. Be mindful of the images you choose and how they may be perceived.
Avoid using stereotypes or images that may be culturally insensitive. Instead, use images that represent the diversity within the culture and its values.
Be respectful of religious beliefs
Religion plays an important role in many cultures, and it’s essential to be respectful of these beliefs. Avoid using religious imagery or language that may be perceived as offensive.
Instead, focus on the values and traditions of the culture.
Collaborate with members of the culture
Collaborating with members of the culture you are targeting can be an effective way to create culturally appropriate content. This can provide you with valuable insights into the culture and help you avoid any cultural missteps. Additionally, it shows your audience that you are respectful of their culture and willing to learn from them.
Seek feedback from diverse sources
Once you’ve created your content, it’s important to seek feedback from a diverse group of people.
This can include people from the culture you are targeting, as well as people from other cultures. This will help you identify any cultural missteps and make adjustments as needed.
As a business, it’s essential to recognize the diversity of your audience and create content that reflects this diversity. By doing so, you can reach a broader audience and create a positive impact.
Teneo Linguistics Company can assist your business on this journey by providing a variety of customizable language services in more than 180 languages. Visit www.tlctranslation.com to get a quote today.
Language and music are two of the most fundamental and universal forms of human communication. Although they may seem different at first glance, language and music share many similarities, including the use of sound, rhythm, and structure to convey meaning and evoke emotion.
Music is a universal language that can evoke powerful emotions and feelings in people. It has the ability to connect people from different cultures, age groups, and backgrounds.
Music can be used to express emotions, tell stories, and communicate messages that transcend language barriers. It can also have therapeutic effects, helping people to relax, reduce stress, and improve their mental health.
Language, on the other hand, is essential for communication and the transmission of ideas, beliefs, and knowledge. Language allows us to interact with others, express our thoughts and feelings, and share our experiences. It also helps us to understand the perspectives of others and build social connections.
This piece explores the connection between language and music, examining their similarities.
Sound and Rhythm
Both language and music are based on the use of sound and rhythm. In language, we use sounds to create words and sentences, which are then arranged in a rhythmic pattern.
Similarly, in music, we use sounds to create melodies, rhythms, and harmonies that are arranged in a rhythmic pattern. The use of sound and rhythm in both language and music helps to convey meaning and emotion.
Structure
Both language and music have a structure that helps to organize and convey meaning. In language, we use grammar and syntax to structure words and sentences. In music, we use musical notation to structure melodies, harmonies, and rhythms.
The structure of both language and music allows us to communicate complex ideas in a clear and organized way.
Emotion
Both language and music can evoke emotion in the listener. In language, we use tone of voice and cadence to convey emotion.
In music, we use melody, rhythm, and harmony to create emotional responses in the listener. Both language and music have the power to move us, to make us laugh, cry, or feel inspired.
Moreover, both music and language share certain cognitive abilities. For example, both involve the ability to perceive and manipulate sounds, recognize patterns and rhythms, and understand the meaning of symbols and signs. Music and language are important forms of human communication, and both have the power to move us, inspire us, and connect us with others.
Teneo Linguistics Company is a certified small, woman-owned business that specializes in a variety of customizable language services in more than 180 languages. Learn how TLC can support your company with these professional services.
In today’s globalized world, it is essential for businesses to have an online presence. With the internet, it is easier than ever to reach a worldwide audience. However, to do so effectively, it is crucial to consider the impact of translation on search engine optimization (SEO) and website traffic.
This piece addresses how translation can impact SEO and website traffic and offers tips for businesses to optimize their translated content. Teneo Linguistics Company (TLC) can play a significant role in implementing a successful multilingual SEO project.
SEO is a set of processes aimed at improving a company’s website visibility in search engines. The higher a website ranks in the SERPs (search engine results pages), the more likely it is to receive traffic from search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. SEO is essential for businesses as it can increase their visibility, credibility, and their revenue.
TLC offers professional website localization services. Most web users prefer to search and browse websites in their own native language. But it’s not just about creating another language version of a company’s existing website but rather a version of the content that considers cultural context and target audience, stylistic issues, legality, multilingual SEO, adaptation to the local market, planning for space issues, and ongoing updates to the website.
Another factor to consider is the quality of the translation. Poorly translated content can negatively affect SEO and website traffic.
Search engines like Google use algorithms to determine the relevance and quality of website content. If the translation is of low quality, it can affect the website’s credibility, which can result in a lower ranking in the SERPs.
TLC is ISO 17100 certified, which is specific to the translation services industry. It provides the requirements for the core processes, resources, and other aspects of delivering quality translation services. When a company reaches this ISO certification, they have proven they offer reliable, consistent translations. TLC’s translation process is established and holds up to even the finest scrutiny.
To perfect translated content for SEO and website traffic, businesses can follow these tips:
Hire professional translators: Professional translators have the ability and experience to ensure that the translation is accurate, relevant, and of high quality.
Conduct keyword research: Businesses should conduct keyword research in the target language to identify relevant keywords and phrases to include in their translated content.
Adapt the content to the target culture: Translating content is not enough. Businesses should adapt their content to the target culture to ensure that it resonates with the local audience.
Use hreflang tags: Hreflang tags tell search engines which language version of a page to serve to users based on their location and language preferences. This can improve the visibility of the translated content in the SERPs.
By following the tips outlined above, businesses can improve the visibility of their translated content and increase their website traffic from non-English-speaking countries. However, it’s important to leave it to professionals like TLC to ensure a company doesn’t see a negative impact from inaccurate or unreliable translations.
Don’t miss out on valuable website traffic simply because your content isn’t presented in other languages. Learn how TLC can assist your company by visiting www.tlctranslation.com.
Multilingual desktop publishing (DTP) is the process of creating and publishing print or electronic materials in multiple languages. It combines language experts with designers to keep a business’s designs as consistent as possible between different languages.
Multilingual DTP requires a deep understanding of the different scripts, alphabets, and typographical conventions of each language. This also includes the cultural context in which the text will be used.
DTP is something that companies may not think to prioritize but is valuable in business expansion. With the growing number of languages being used on the internet and in digital media, this service is becoming increasingly important for creating content that is accessible and relevant to diverse audiences.
Multilingual DTP allows businesses to effectively communicate with a global audience, expand their customer base, and improve their brand image.
By using various languages and localizing content, businesses can increase their visibility and credibility in different regions and cultures.
Additionally, multilingual DTP can help ensure that business materials such as brochures, manuals, and websites are accurate and consistent across different languages. This improves the overall quality of the materials and the brand image.
Overall, multilingual desktop publishing can help businesses increase their reach, improve communication with customers, and enhance their global brand image.
Using a professional for multilingual desktop publishing is recommended for several reasons:
• Expertise – A professional has the expertise to handle the complexities of multilingual desktop publishing. This includes language-specific character sets, typography, and layout issues.
• Accuracy – Professional translators have the necessary language skills to translate and adapt content for different cultures and regions accurately. This helps ensure that the meaning and tone of the content are preserved in each language.
• Consistency – A professional can ensure that the visual design, branding, and formatting are consistent across all languages. This helps maintain the integrity and consistency of the brand image.
• Efficiency – A professional can handle the time-consuming process of multilingual DTP. This frees up time for businesses to focus on other important tasks.
• Cost savings – By using a professional, businesses can avoid costly mistakes and ensure that their multilingual materials are of high quality. This will save them money in the long run.
Ultimately, using a professional like Teneo Linguistics Company can help ensure that businesses effectively communicate with a global audience.
Now that 2022 has come to an end, it’s time to reflect on some important moments in the language services industry. Here are some of the major headlines from interpreting, translation, and other language news from last year.
White House hires full-time ASL interpreters – March 2022
At the end of last March, the White House made history by hiring its first full-time American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. The interpreters assisted in ensuring President Joe Biden’s live broadcasts were heard by all.
The first official White House ASL interpreter is a ground-breaking position, which went to Elsie Stecker who is completely deaf. In addition, the Biden administration also hired non-deaf ASL interpreter Lindsay Snyder. According to the American Translators Association, the positions come after advocates sued to get live ASL interpreting during COVID-19 briefings.
British Sign Language becomes an official language in the UK – April 2022
While British Sign Language (BSL) was recognized as a language in 2003, it had no legal protection until April 28, 2022. The new law passed by the House of Lords formally acknowledges BSL as a language in all of the United Kingdom.
However, Scotland already passed legislature back in 2015 legally recognizing BSL. The UK Government has been made responsible for providing better guidance to public services and government departments on BSL.
HHS proposes new rule to improve language access – August 2022
A new rule to improve language access was proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services back in August of 2022. The rule expands language access through the Affordable Care Act and ensures free and effective language assistance services are provided to limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. The rule also includes standards for video remote interpreting and a requirement that healthcare entities with 15 or more employees designate an individual to coordinate compliance.
On October 6th, HHS announced its relaunch of the Language Access Steering Committee to support the implementation of language access obligations under President Joe Biden’s Executive Orders.
European Parliament interpreters call off strike – October 2022
After going on strike in June of 2022, the European Parliament’s (EP) in-house interpreters made an interim deal and called off their strike on October 17th. The strike occurred in protest of problems that arose due to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) teleworking during the pandemic and complaints of deteriorating health conditions.
According to an EP spokesperson, the deal secures a good compromise between the need for operational continuity and the interpreters’ health concerns related to working methods.
2019 Census Bureau report on languages – December 2022
The U.S. Census Bureau released its 2019 report, which states that about 67.8 million people spoke a language other than English at home. This number tripled from the 1980 data of about 23 million people. But the number of English speakers also increased from 187.2 million in 1980 to 241 million in 2019.
The most common non-English language in the US is Spanish which accounts for about 62%. This is followed by Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Arabic.
There are numerous other language industry stories that came out of 2022 and many can be found on the American Translators Association website.
Teneo Linguistics Company is a certified small, woman-owned business that provides customizable language services in more than 180 languages. Learn more about how TLC can support your company by visiting www.tlctranslation.com.
People all around the world will ring in 2023 this weekend, which means partaking in their own unique traditions. Here is a glimpse of how citizens of various countries celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Brazil
On NYE, Brazilians can be seen dressed in white attire to symbolize luck and prosperity in the new year. This tradition came from the Candomblé religion, where people would wear white during rituals seeking peace and spiritual purification. This is followed by a trip to the beach where individuals jump through seven waves. The person who jumps the seven waves will receive spiritual cleansing and strength to overcome obstacles in the coming year.
Canada
While many people spend the evening at bars and parties, residents of more rural areas in Quebec spend the night ice fishing with groups of friends.
A Canadian New Year’s Day tradition involves plunging into icy cold waters in the name of charity. The polar bear swim started back in the early 1900s in Vancouver and has now become a tradition across the country.
Denmark
In Denmark, it’s traditional to throw old plates and other dishes at friends’ and neighbors’ front doors on New Year’s Eve. The more that accumulates on the doorstep, the better luck you will have in the new year.
Danish citizens also participate in what is called hoppe ind i det nye år or in English, “to jump or leap into the new year.” This involves jumping on furniture. The proper tradition is to climb up on a chair just as the year is drawing to a close and then jump down off of it at the stroke of midnight.
France
Although celebrating very similarly to the United States, France does have some unique traditions for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Residents of all ages in France brave the freezing ocean for a dip or un bain des givrés. One of the most popular beaches for this communal swim is that at Malo-les-Bains in Dunkirk. When the clock strikes midnight on NYE, it is tradition for citizens to kiss under the mistletoe.
Greece
In Greece, families hang pomegranates on their doors. At midnight the family moves away from the house and after midnight one lucky member, usually, a child, re-enters the house stepping in with their right foot. It is believed that the first person to step foot inside the house will bring good luck to everyone in the house. Another family member smashes the pomegranate. Tradition says that the more seeds that fall on the ground, the more fortune and luck will enter the house.
Haiti
Besides the new year, the people of Haiti have another reason to celebrate. January 1st is Haitian Independence Day, which commemorates Haiti’s declaration of independence from French colonial rule on January 1, 1804.
To celebrate, citizens eat joumou soup – a mix of squash, beef, potatoes, and vegetables – which represents freedom to Haitians.
Ireland
Banging bread against walls and doors is a common NYE tradition in Ireland. This is done to ward off evil spirits and protect the home. If bread isn’t available, pots and pans or wooden spoons will suffice. Another Irish tradition involves placing coal inside the house. Having coal in the house is a sign that the new year will be prosperous and filled with wealth and abundance. Coal represents warmth, potential, and opportunity.
Japan
In Japan, 108 bell tolls can be heard from Buddhist temples at midnight on New Year’s. This symbolizes the earthly temptations and Buddhist belief to get rid of the 108 worldly desires regarding sense and feeling in every citizen.
The Japanese also have a custom of sending New Year’s Day postcards to friends and relatives, similar to the Western custom of sending Christmas cards.
Philippines
If you walked into a Filipino’s home on NYE you would see a table with round fruits at its center. This tradition is known as bilog-bilog. In Hispanic culture, round-shape fruits symbolize richness or wealth because their form resembles old-fashioned gold and silver. Besides the round fruits, citizens can be seen sporting polka dot clothing or anything round-shaped. Around an hour before the clock strikes midnight, Filipinos create a lot of noise to ward off bad spirits and negative vibes. Once the new year arrives, citizens jump as high as they can at midnight to bring growth for the new year.
United States
Whether in person or in front of the television screen, US residents traditionally ring in the new year by watching the ball drop in New York City’s Time Square. The first ball drop was held on December 31, 1907, and was organized by New York Times owner Adolph Ochs.
It is estimated that one million people watch the NYC ball drop live. The night wraps up with champagne, fireworks, and a kiss.
Teneo Linguistics Company is a certified small, woman-owned business that specializes in a variety of customizable language services, in more than 180 languages. The TLC team wishes everyone a safe and happy New Year.
As Christmas approaches this weekend, families around the world are gearing up for a day full of cheer and songs that fill hearts with familiarity.
Christmas carols are thought to pre-date Christianity — existing to keep up people’s spirits, along with dances, plays, and feasts through the winter months. However, when Christianity spread throughout Europe in the 14th century, the first carols were produced by Franciscan friars, the followers of Saint Francis of Assisi.
From there, carols took hold – people from various countries composed their own classics that became hits to ring in the holiday. Here is a look at the origins of popular Christmas carols from around the world.
“Away in a Manger”
The carol “Away in a Manger” has an interesting history. It was written anonymously and published in American magazines around the 1880s. It was claimed that the song was from a 16th-century German lullaby, however, this was deemed untrue later on.
No one has uncovered an original German version of the carol and Methodist hymnologist Fred Gealy noted that evidence suggests that the carol is wholly an American product. Although, the original author of the carol hasn’t been positively identified.
“Deck the Halls”
This Christmas tune dates back to 16th-century Wales. Its lyrics came from the New Year’s Eve song “Nos Galan.” Scottish folk music composer Thomas Oliphant changed the words to what is now the well-known “Deck the Halls.” Oliphant’s version was published in Welsh Melodies, Vol. 2. in 1862. From that time on, he became a celebrated translator of songs, which included the English version of Ava Maria. He also wrote the chorale for the wedding of the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.
“Feliz Navidad”
While it doesn’t necessarily have a “historic” origin, the carol that comes to mind isn’t just popular among Spanish-speaking families but has become well-liked around the world. “Feliz Navidad” was written and first recorded in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano. Feliciano’s recording is one of the most downloaded and aired Christmas songs in the United States and Canada.
“O Come, All Ye Faithful”
Originally written in Latin, the carol “Adeste Fidelis” is now widely known as “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” The original carol has been attributed to several authors over the years. However, the earliest written version of the song is attributed to English hymnist John Francis Wade from his collection Cantus Diversi in 1751.
The English translation of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was written by English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley in 1841. It is now widespread in most English-speaking countries.
“O Tannenbaum”
The Christmas carol “O Tannenbaum” was initially written in 1824 by organist and composer Ernst Anschütz from Leipzig, Germany. The carol is based on a 16th-century German folk song that pays homage to the steadfast nature of the “Tannenbaum,” the German word for a fir tree.
The lyrics do not actually refer to Christmas or describe a decorated Christmas tree. Instead, they refer to the fir tree’s evergreen quality as a symbol of constancy and faithfulness. Today, the English version of this song has included a Christmas touch as the well-known “O Christmas Tree.”
“Silent Night”
“Silent Night” originated in a small Alpine town in the Austrian countryside. The song’s lyrics were originally written in German just after the end of the Napoleonic Wars by a young Austrian priest named Joseph Mohr. In 1817, Mohr asked school teacher and organist, Franz Gruber, to accompany his poem by composing the music.
The German version of “Silent Night”.
On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr and Gruber sang “Silent Night” for the first time in front of Mohr’s congregation in Salzburg, Austria. “Silent Night” is now the most widely translated Christmas carol being sung in more than 300 languages.
While it’s hard to put an exact number on how many Christmas carols there are around the world, most all have unique histories. This is why these songs spread a feeling of nostalgia during the holidays each year.
Teneo Linguistics Company is a certified small, woman-owned business that offers various customizable services in more than 180 languages. Visit www.tlctranslation.com to learn more about how TLC can support your company with language services.
Teneo Linguistics Company (TLC) is a certified small, woman-owned language services provider (LSP). But why Teneo? And what is the meaning behind the name?
When TLC Owner and CEO Hana Laurenzo established the company 15 years ago, she didn’t want to go with the word “language” in the title. It was an overused and taken word among the thousands of LSPs.
Teneo (tenere, tenui, tentus) is a Latin word meaning to master, to grasp, to hold, to comprehend, to maintain, or to get.
“When Julius Ceasar stepped off the boat on the North shore of Africa, he got down on the ground, spread his arms as if to hug the land, and said ‘Teneo te, Africa!’ – ‘I hold/have you, Africa!’” Hana described about the word.
“Some say he actually fell on his face when stepping off of the boat and when people were laughing, he turned it into an intentional act, instead. I guess we’ll never know.”
A name is very valuable in defining a company and creating an identity among competitors – it helps a business stand out from the crowd. A unique company name can help communicate the business strategy and is necessary for branding success.
Hana adds, “Aside from the meaning, I like it is a conversation starter because people often ask me what that means or tell me they had looked it up. It also shows that we are paying homage to Latin, one of the most significant and influential languages in the history of mankind.”
In addition, bringing in the word “linguistics” instead of “language” adds a professional and even scientific element to the TLC brand. Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure.
TLC has thousands of professional, experienced linguists in its database who are proficient in more than 180 languages. Industries served include life science organizations, government agencies, manufacturing companies, legal firms, educational departments, and a range of other businesses.
The services TLC provides are customized to fit an agency’s organizational workflow. Lasting partnerships are formed with clients and TLC lives by four Core Values: Excellence, partnership, integrity, and gratitude.
Overall, the name Teneo Linguistics Company was chosen because it reflects who we are as a business.
Learn more about how TLC can support your company with language services by visiting www.tlctranslation.com.
Mistakes happen. But when it comes to advertising in other countries, mistakes can be costly. That’s why it is extremely important to hire a reputable language services provider for culturally-accurate translations.
This piece will take a look at some funny, yet tragic, advertising translation fails that happened to higher-profile brands.
Ford’s “Every car has a high-quality corpse” slogan
After making the decision to expand to Belgium, Ford Motor Company began an ad campaign in Dutch.
What was supposed to be, “Every car has a high-quality body,” actually translated to “Every car has a high-quality corpse.”
KFC’s “Eat your fingers off” slogan
Kentucky Fried Chicken created an advertisement in China that was supposed to promote their “Finger lickin’ good” slogan. However, due to a mistranslation with the Mandarin, the slogan read as “Eat your fingers off” — not quite the appetizing message.
Fortunately for KFC, the branding in China was small enough that the company was able to recover from the mistake.
Pepsi’s “bring your ancestors back to life”
Running an ad campaign in China, Pepsi inadvertently mistranslated its “Come alive with Pepsi” to say “Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the grave.”
Definitely a bold commitment.
Dairy association’s “Are you lactating?” ad
Most English speakers know the American Dairy Association’s catchy slogan, “Got Milk?” But when the organization decided to do a campaign in Mexico, that wasn’t the phrase that went out.
The literal translation of “got milk” in Spanish is “are you lactating?” Thankfully, the message was caught very early in the process and adjusted.
Coors “You will suffer from diarrhea”
In the early 1980s, Coors started an ad campaign with the slogan, “Turn it loose!” This proved difficult to translate into Spanish.
The phrase translated is actually the slang term for “get diarrhea” in Spanish – not an ideal combination. In full, the tagline translated into “You will suffer from diarrhea!” Oops.
Teneo Linguistic Company’s marketing and transcreation services ensure messaging is accurate and culturally appropriate. Marketing translation is almost always more transcreation than direct translation. A translator will likely need to localize phrases and words within. This will make sure a company delivers the right meaning to the intended audience.
No matter how big or small a marketing translation project is, hiring an expert language services provider is vital to ensure top-notch translations. Get a quote today by visiting www.tlctranslation.com.
It’s December 1st and folks are getting into the holiday spirit while coordinating with family and planning mouth-watering, traditional cuisines. And while not all countries celebrate the same way, food is always a centerpiece of the festivities.
Here is a look at some countries that celebrate Christmas and the unique meals prepared.
Brazil
Because the weather is warm in Brazil for the holiday, the main course is typically accompanied by cooler dishes. This includes fresh salads, dried fruit, and cold potato salads mixed with apples and raisins. Bowls of rice seasoned with garlic are a staple, as well as ham and cheese plates, seasoned kale, and farofa-a mix of fried cassava flour and crispy bacon bits.
As for the main dish, Brazilians will usually prepare a “Chester.” This special variety of chicken has been bred to have a high percentage of breast and thigh meat.
France
Foie gras, caviar, smoked salmon, and oysters can be found in a traditional French holiday dinner. The meat of choice can range from duck to goose, venison, and even turkey, all served with delectable sauces. Bûche de Noël is a must for dessert.
The popular French dessert, Bûche de Noël, is traditionally served at Christmastime.
This is a yule log-shaped sponge cake filled with buttercream and is typically served after Christmas Eve midnight mass.
Germany
The centerpiece to a German Christmas meal can range from duck to goose, a roast, or even rabbit. The meat is accompanied by delicacies such as apple and sausage stuffing, red cabbage, and potato dumplings. For dessert, a fruit-cake-like sweet called Stollen can be expected.
Greece
At the center of Christmas in Greece is spit-roasted lamb and/or pork. This is accompanied by lahanodolmades — stuffed cabbage leaves — egg and lemon chicken soup, and spinach and cheese pie. A traditional Greek dessert is melomakarona, which is a sweet, honey-soaked cookie topped with ground walnuts. On Christmas Eve, a rustic sweetbread filled with raisins, nuts, cardamom, and cloves called Christopsomo is prepared and eaten.
Hungary
In Hungary, the Christmas Eve meal begins with fisherman’s soup or halászlé. This is followed by a whole roasted fish or breaded carp and potato salad. Stuffed cabbage with sour cream can often be the center on Christmas Day and also include roasted duck or turkey.
The popular Hungarian dessert, mákos guba.
To finish, a bread pudding flavored with poppy seeds and honey called mákos guba is a popular dessert.
Italy
As one would expect, pasta plays a big part in the traditional Italian Christmas feast. Lasagne Bolognese and filled pasta like manicotti and ravioli are the two primary pasta dishes surrounding meats like veal and lamb. Chocolate-covered fruits, chocolate bonbons, or truffles; and cakes like anettone, pandoro, and panforte, are at the center of dessert followed by coffee all-around.
Japan
While many in Japan do not celebrate Christmas due to a smaller Christian population, there is still one tradition that has taken hold, Christmas fried chicken. The popularity of this tradition began to grow in the 1970s when Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) establishments started promoting their food as a Christmas meal. Making a reservation in advance is now essential to snag some Christmas KFC.
Poland
On Christmas Eve, a supper called Wigilia features 12 dishes that are served in Poland. The 12 dishes represent the twelve apostles of Jesus and the twelve months of the year. The number is also a symbol of wealth in Poland.
Barszcz Czerwone z Uszkami, is red borscht with mushroom dumplings.
These dishes include, but are not limited to:
Pierniki (Polish gingerbread)
Barszcz Czerwone z Uszkami (red borscht with mushroom dumplings)
Kapusta z Groszek (cabbage with split peas)
Jarzynowa Sałatka (vegetable salad)
Karp (Carp fish, fried or baked in Aspic)
Pierogi z grzybami i kapustą (mushroom and cabbage pierogi)
Gołąbki (rice stuffed cabbage rolls)
Challah (plaited Jewish bread)
Sernik (Polish cheesecake)
Kutia (wheat-flower and honey dessert)
Makowiec (poppy seed cake)
Kompot (smoked fruit cordial)
Spain
In Spain, Christmas is celebrated for several days with extensive preparations. On Christmas Eve, a lavish dinner is served, with lobster, prawns, suckling pig, Cochinillo, or roasted lamb as the main dish.
Polvorónes and mantecados are popular sweet biscuits that are had for dessert during Christmas in Spain.
This is accompanied by Galets, a soup with large pasta shells, followed by a variety of tapas and sweets like turron (nougat) and polvorónes/mantecados (biscuits).
Sweden
A Swedish Christmas almost mimics the traditional US holiday with gifts under a lighted tree and homes decorated with candles and winter scenes. The prepared meal includes a Christmas ham, pork sausage, an egg, and an anchovy mixture called gubbröra. This is alongside herring salad, pickled herring, home-made liver pâté, wort-flavored rye bread called vörtbröd, potatoes, and a special fish dish, lutfisk.
Swedish saffron buns.
A popular dessert, Swedish saffron buns, are sweet yeast rolls that are flavored with golden saffron and dark raisins and often shaped into ‘Lucia cats.’
United States
In the US, turkey is the traditional centerpiece on the table at Christmas. Turkeys are typically surrounded by a variety of side dishes and sometimes served alongside a sweet spiral-cut ham. Sides usually include mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs, casseroles, and vegetables. For dessert, pumpkin and pecan pies, cheesecake, and cookies are popular sweets.
All the mentioned cuisines can vary depending on family traditions. But one thing is certain, all bellies come away satisfied from the holiday no matter the location.
Teneo Linguistics Company is a certified small, woman-owned language services provider that offers a variety of customizable services in more than 180 languages. Learn more by visiting www.tlctranslation.com.
