Holiday food is the food people remember.
Here is the whole year at the table: what the world cooks for the days that matter, and where to find the recipes on Passport Kitchen. Find your holiday, click through, and start planning. Give yourself 2 months. The best holiday tables start early.
Want the techniques behind the dishes? They're all in the Technique School.
Winter: January and February
| Holiday | When | Where | On the table | Recipes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 | United States | Black-eyed peas, collard greens, cornbread | New Year's Day: Set the Table; Dry January Mocktails |
| Shōgatsu (New Year) | January 1 to 3 | Japan | Osechi boxes, ozōni soup with mochi | Coming soon |
| Three Kings Day | January 6 | Spain | Roscón de reyes, thick hot chocolate | Coming soon |
| Burns Night | January 25 | Scotland | Haggis, neeps and tatties, whisky | Coming soon |
| Lunar New Year | Late January to mid-February | China | Dumplings, a whole fish, nian gao | Jiaozi Dumplings |
| Tết | Late January to mid-February | Vietnam | Bánh chưng, caramel pork with eggs, pickled shallots | Coming soon |
| Game Day | Early to mid-February | United States | Wings, chili, sliders, dips | Dry Rub Wings 4 Ways; Buttermilk Fried Wings; Burger Sauce Guide |
| Valentine's Day | February 14 | Worldwide | Dinner for two, chocolate | Flourless Chocolate Decadence Cake |
| Mardi Gras | February or March | United States | King cake, gumbo, jambalaya, beignets | Coming soon |
| Carnival | February or March | Brazil | Feijoada, pão de queijo | Coming soon |
Spring: March to May
| Holiday | When | Where | On the table | Recipes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Patrick's Day | March 17 | Ireland | Corned beef, cabbage, colcannon, soda bread | Scratch Corned Beef Timeline; Colcannon; Savory Irish Soda Bread; Irish Bread Pudding |
| St. Joseph's Day | March 19 | Italy | St. Joseph's bread, zeppole | Pane di San Giuseppe |
| Holi | March | India | Gujiya, thandai, pakoras | Coming soon |
| Nowruz (Persian New Year) | March 20 or 21 | Iran | Sabzi polo with fish, kuku sabzi | Coming soon |
| Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr | Moves each year | Morocco and the Muslim world | Dates, harira soup, chebakia, msemen | Coming soon |
| Passover | March or April | The Jewish world | Matzo ball soup, brisket, charoset, kugel | Passover Seder Menu; Matzo Ball Soup; Braised Brisket |
| Easter | March or April | United States and Western Europe | Ham, roast lamb, hot cross buns | Easter Dinner Menu; Roast Leg of Lamb |
| Orthodox Easter | April or May | Greece | Spit-roast lamb, tsoureki, red eggs | Roast Leg of Lamb |
| Khmer New Year | Mid-April | Cambodia | Num ansom (sticky rice cakes in banana leaf) | Coming soon |
| Songkran | April 13 to 15 | Thailand | Khao chae, street food | Coming soon |
| Cinco de Mayo | May 5 | Mexico and the United States | Tacos, carne asada, guacamole, mole | Cinco de Mayo Menu; Carne Asada |
| Mother's Day | Second Sunday of May (US) | Worldwide | Brunch, cake, her favorite dish | Mother's Day Brunch Menu; Mother's Day Around the World |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday of May | United States | The first cookout of summer | Memorial Day: The American Tradition of Gathering |
Summer: June to August
| Holiday | When | Where | On the table | Recipes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Father's Day | Third Sunday of June | United States | Steak, ribs, burgers off the grill | Bistecca alla Fiorentina; St. Louis Ribs |
| Juneteenth | June 19 | United States | Barbecue, red drinks, red velvet cake | Classic BBQ Chicken |
| Fourth of July | July 4 | United States | Burgers, ribs, potato salad, pie | St. Louis Ribs; American Potato Salad; Strawberry Shortcake |
| Bastille Day | July 14 | France | Steak frites, crêpes, Champagne | Coming soon |
| Eid al-Adha | Moves each year | Morocco and the Muslim world | Roast or braised lamb, tagine, biryani | Coming soon |
Fall: September to November
| Holiday | When | Where | On the table | Recipes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosh Hashanah | September or October | The Jewish world | Apples and honey, round challah, honey cake, brisket | Braised Brisket |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | September or October | China and Vietnam | Mooncakes, pomelo, tea | Coming soon |
| Chuseok | September or October | Korea | Songpyeon, jeon, galbi | Coming soon |
| Oktoberfest | Late September to early October | Germany | Pretzels, bratwurst, beer | Coming soon |
| Diwali | October or November | India | Mithai, ladoo, samosas, biryani | Coming soon |
| Halloween | October 31 | United States | Caramel apples, cider donuts, chili | Cider Donuts |
| Day of the Dead | November 1 and 2 | Mexico | Pan de muerto, tamales, mole | Coming soon |
| Thanksgiving | Fourth Thursday of November | United States | Turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pie | Thanksgiving Menu; Thanksgiving Countdown; 23 Thanksgiving Recipes; Dry Brine Turkey |
The Holidays: December
| Holiday | When | Where | On the table | Recipes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanukkah | November or December | The Jewish world | Latkes, applesauce, sufganiyot | Coming soon |
| King Bhumibol Day (Father's Day) | December 5 | Thailand | Food for the monks, then a family feast for Dad | Coming soon |
| St. Lucia Day | December 13 | Sweden | Saffron buns, gingersnaps, glögg | Coming soon |
| Feast of the Seven Fishes | December 24 | Italian-America | Fried calamari, baccalà, linguine with clams | Coming soon |
| Wigilia (Christmas Eve) | December 24 | Poland | Pierogi, barszcz, carp | Coming soon |
| Christmas | December 25 | Italy | Tortellini in brodo, panettone | Coming soon |
| Christmas | December 25 | England | Roast goose or beef, Yorkshire pudding, Christmas pudding | Coming soon |
| Christmas | December 25 | Jamaica | Sorrel, black cake, curry goat | Coming soon |
| New Year's Eve | December 31 | Worldwide | Champagne and small bites, toshikoshi soba | Coming soon |
New holidays and recipes are added all year. See all of our Cultural Food Traditions.