With the countdown to the Big Day ramping up, new research from Ocado has revealed just how unique and quirky Christmas dining and feasting is in every household across the UK.
Over half of Brits (55%) say they have unique family food traditions, with 1 in 5 (20%) admitting they enjoy foods at Christmas that would surprise guests.
According to Ocado’s poll of 2000 respondents, the most weird and wonderful 12 foods and food traditions enjoyed at Christmas are:
- Ketchup with Christmas dinner (20%)
- Christmas pudding ice cream (17%)
- Cheese with chocolate (13%)
- Twiglets throughout the festive period (13%)
- Festive toasties (12%)
- Coleslaw with Christmas dinner (11%)
- Pickled onions with Christmas dinner (11%)
- Mince pies with cheese (10%)
- Seafood for breakfast (9%)
- Curry on Christmas Day (9%)
- Chilli sauce on Christmas dinner (9%)
- Mushy peas with Christmas dinner (9%)
Whilst turkey continues to be a firm favourite for many, over half of Brits (53%) say they’re open to trying non-traditional or more experimental foods at Christmas time, and a quarter (25%) plan to add new and trending flavours to their festive menus this year, including Dubai chocolate, matcha, and even kimchi!
And it’s not just the food Brits are eating that’s causing a stir, they’re embracing weird and wonderful cooking methods too. One in 12 (8%) admit they now air-fry their Christmas dinner, and one in 16 (6%) have even tried deep frying it!
In celebration of the nation’s unique and varied food traditions, Ocado has revamped the classic Christmas carol ‘Jingle Bells’ with new lyrics that reflect some of the most unusual traditions. The new version Season’s Eatings is sung by a choir of Ocado drivers and employees, alongside the Soul Choir and popstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor,
From soy sauce spuds to snowman-shaped bao buns, the lyrics celebrate the two in five (40%) Brits who say they’re increasingly open to trying other cultural traditions at Christmas time. Asian fusion in particular has become a popular party food staple in recent years, according to Ocado, with tempura prawns and dim sum also hot on the menu.
Another increasing trend is the Christmas Day brunch. One third of Brits (33%) say they now enjoy this early morning feast, rising to more than half (54%) of 18-24 year olds. Nearly one in ten (9%) enjoy seafoodfor breakfast and brunch on Christmas Day, including prawns, Cornish crab, and full seafood platters.
Dan Elton, Chief Customer Officer at Ocado Retail, says, “Traditional Christmas foods will always be well-loved, but it’s fascinating to see how festive season feasting differs from family to family. Whether that’s an unusual twist on a Christmas roast dinner or embracing new food trends and global cuisines, Ocado’s range ensures all tastes and traditions are catered for, helping everyone celebrate in their own unique way.
It’s also been a lot of fun bringing these food traditions all to life in our ‘Season’s Eatings’ Christmas carol, sung by our Ocado choir and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.”
Sophie Ellis-Bextor says, “It was so much fun joining the Ocado choir’s rehearsal and seeing everyone’s reactions as we started singing. There’s something magical about Christmas carols, the way they bring people together and remind you of festive moments. Christmas has always been beautifully busy in my house. We’ve got all the usual traditions, and then some eccentric ones too! My personal favourite is handed down from my grandparents – we do a conga with my family when we light up and carry the Christmas pudding”
Encouraging the nation to embrace every kind of Christmas, you can catch a one-off live performance of the Season’s Eatings carol with Sophie Ellis-Bextor and the Ocado choir in George Street, Richmond on Friday 12th December, 12.45 pm.
From indulgent Christmas seafood breakfasts like crab crumpets, to Wagyu beef centrepieces and hot-honey glazed sides, the festive dinner table now looks different in every household. Ocado makes it easy to embrace all traditions, old and new, however your family marks the day.
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