Top Ten Holiday Delicacies from Around the World

Ever wonder how people in other countries celebrate winter festivities, and what they eat? These international holiday delicacies show us a little bit about how others celebrate winter and religious festivals at the close of the year. Journey around the world and get a taste of ten traditional holiday foods unique and special to distinct countries.

Sorrel Recipe from Vegetarian Times

Jamaica – Sorrel

Sorrel is a traditional Christmas drink made from dried parts of the sorrel (a meadow plant), cinnamon, cloves, sugar, orange peel and rum, served over ice. The warm tropical weather of Jamaica means iced drinks are in order for the holidays, and incorporating native plants creates a recipe unique to the island.

Chili – Cola de Mono – Chilean Eggnog
This Chilean eggnog is a part of both Christmas and New Year’s Eve traditions. Usually homemade, the recipe varies but popular ingredients include milk, sugar, alcohol, coffee, cloves and vanilla beans.

United Kingdom - Christmas Pudding

United Kingdom map from mapsales.com

A traditional treat in England, Christmas Puddings are made from many dried fruits, spices, alcohol and held together by egg. The high content of alcohol allows the pudding to be aged for a month or even a year without spoiling, enhancing the flavor.

Greece – Loukoumades – Donuts

Loukoumades are pastries made of fried dough, soaked in sugary syrup or honey, and then covered with cinnamon and sometimes powered sugar. These pastries are often made as treats for Hanukkah in the Jewish tradition.

Mince Pies recipe from FoodHub

New Zealand – Christmas Mince Pies

Historically, ground beef with dried fruit and alcohol were baked into pie dough, though today mincemeat pies are usually made without meat at all. Strongly associated with Christmas, the three spices traditionally used in mince pies –cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon- are said to represent the three gifts given to the Christ child by the Magi.

Korea – Duk Gook – Rice Cake Soup

Korean Duk Gook, a soup filled with Korean rice cakes is eaten on the Winter Solstice or New Year’s Day. It is considered good luck to eat as many rice balls from the soup as years you have lived.

South Africa – Malvapoeding – Marshmallow Pudding

South Africa map from mapsales.com

Malvapoding, or marshmallow pudding, is smothered in a heavy cream and sugar-filled sauce, creating a spongy texture similar to marshmallows. The name ‘Malva’ came from Malvacea wine that Dutch colonists used to serve with the pudding in the 17^th century.

Medianyky recipe at The Ryersonian

Ukraine – Medianyky – Honey Cookies

These honey cookies look like lace and are cut into stars, crescents or circles. A popular tradition is to hang them on low branches of the Christmas tree for children to eat.

Hungary, Germany, Austria – krambambuli - Spicy Punch

This spicy punch is made with chamomile flowers, chopped fruit, candied orange peel, walnuts, sugar, rum, brandy and more. The specific recipe varies from family to family and country to country, but always a popular warm choice for wintertime festivities.

Philippines – Tsokolate – Hot Chocolate

Phillipines Map from mapsales.com

On Christmas day, families in the Philippines gather and drink tsokolate, a native chocolate drink made with egg yolks, milk and chocolate. Traditionally a batirol, a whisk with a spiky head, is used to make the hot chocolate.

Interested in Exploring the World on Wall Maps of your favorite countries and locations? Wall Maps make great gifts; use coupon code GIFT5642 at checkout to receive 15% off your order! Offer ends Tuesday, December 17th. 

Fun and Educational Wall Maps: Gifts for Kids

Looking for the perfect gift that is both fun as well as educational? We've picked out the top educational wall maps as perfect gifts for kids this holiday season! Give the gift that looks awesome on their bedroom wall and is a useful tool for homework reference and exploring the world! Educational wall maps are available for every grade level and age.

Cindy is halfway through first grade. We’re choosing a colorful World Deluxe Political Wall Map with protective lamination. We used poster putty to adhere the laminated wall map close to the ground, next to her coloring table. She has special dry erase markers she can use to decorate the world wall map.

Jennifer is in the fifth grade. She has a big test at the end of the year in which she has to write down every state and its capital by memory. The US Flags Wall Map has more than enough information to help her study! We recommend the US Wall Map with wooden rails so the map can be pulled down and revealed for study time.

Abraham is entering high school next year. He’s already into WWII weapons and machinery, so the World War II Europe Wall Map is the perfect choice for his interests as well as his World Cultures Class. We choose the magnetic wall map so he can track the location of troops as he reads more about the war.

Find Wall Maps for Kids

• Wall Maps on wooden rails
• Shop Wall Maps by Grade
• World, USA, Continent, State Wall Maps
• Historical, Social, Political and other wall maps
• Wall Map Bundles for classrooms or gifts

Gift Guide: Contemporary & Stylish Wall Maps for Her

Welcome to our series of Gift Guides for the Holidays 2013.

Looking for the perfect gift for her? From the most popular wall décor to practical travel items, mapsales.com offers a wide selection of gifts for every personality!

The Most Popular Gifts for Wall Map Décor

• Recognizable Wall Maps of the World
• Popular Wall Maps of the USA
• In political, physical, satellite and antique styles!

Give Her Inspiration for Her Travels

• Over 200 countries around the world
• Explore Canada
• Maps of Every State in the USA

Invite Her to Explore the Outdoors

• National Park Maps
• Topographic Maps for hiking
• Any map can be printed on synthetic paper, perfect for traveling and hiking in any weather

Personalize her gift with her name and a special date; simply call us to personalize her wall map! 

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Planning a Cruise? Carnival Cruise Ship Stranded

A fire on Sunday debilitated a Carnival Cruise Ship in the Gulf of Mexico. More than 4,200 people are on board without power or plumbing. Two tugboats will be required to tug the larger-than-Titanic Carnival Triumph. The ship had drifted north and is expected to arrive in Mobile, Alabama on Thursday. Until then, other ships have brought much-needed supplies.

Zoom in to find Mobile, Alabama on this Countries of the Caribean Wall Map

Because of plumbing issues, many passengers are sleeping in the hallways or on the deck. With limited access to bathrooms, food and hot coffee, passengers are forced to simply wait it out until they get tugged to port.

Cruises are a popular type of vacation. For the ticket price, a passenger gets pampered while visiting different countries or islands. While passengers may brave getting off the ship to explore different ports for a period of time, they are able to return to the ship in time to enjoy a lobster dinner and hot tub soak. For those unwilling to trust flights, foreign hotels or food, it is a way to safely explore some of the world.

Take a cruise or backpack in the wild?

However, many people commenting on the yahoo.com top stories report who have plans to travel on a Carnival cruise later this year are debating or flat-out stating that they will cancel their cruise. We may see a decrease in cruise ship vacation popularity. Perhaps we will see an increase in other types of travel vacations, traveling by flight or car with visitors venturing farther into foreign countries, beyond the tourist-geared ports. When planning your vacation, be sure to ask around, explore some maps, and research your location first!

This Antique Countries of the Caribbean Wall Map shows the Gulf of Mexico with shipping lines. Zoom in to find where the Carnival Triumph will be towed: Mobile, Alabama.

Which would you rather do: take a cruise, or backpack in the wild?

Santas Around the World

In the US, Santa rides around in parades and spends his free time in shopping malls, but what does he do in other countries?  mapsales.com looks at Santa and his doppelgangers around the world. 

England

In the UK, Santa is referred to as Father Christmas and he rides in Harrods’ Annual Christmas Parade in London, with Mrs. Christmas by his side.  Instead of residing at the North Pole, the English believe that Father Christmas lives in the mountains of Korvatunturi in Lapland, Finland.

Japan

Santa takes on a much more active role at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama, Japan.  Rather than sitting on a parade float, this Japanese Santa swims with the dolphins.  Santa dives into the dolphin tanks, wearing his traditional red suit as well as some Christmas-themed scuba gear, and feeds dolphins while onlookers marvel at the sight. 

Russia

Father Frost takes on the Santa Claus role in Russia.  His name and appearance come from a Russian fairy tale written in the 1800s.  In Stovropol, a city in southern Russia, Father Frost rides to a local park with his granddaughter, Snegurochka the Snowmaid, to entertain children. 

Sweden

Being Santa Claus in Sweden is a tough job.  Not only do you have to deliver presents to all the good little boys and girls, but you also have to compete against other Santas from around the world.  Every December, Gallivare, a town in northern Sweden, hosts the Santa Claus Winter Games, in which Santas from all over the world compete in typical Santa sports. 

Want to learn more about holiday celebrations around the world? Try a map!  mapsales.com carries over 200,000 wall maps…delivered as fast as next day! 

Click here for more maps of the world!