Holidays are very special occasions. People from all parts of the globe celebrate them in their own ways. Not only are the holidays fun and special, they are also a representation of different cultures and beliefs. The traditions of a particular country can be easily seen in the way they celebrate their holidays. This is what makes holiday celebrations so varied. They are as diverse as the cultures of all the people who celebrate them. The following are examples of how holidays are celebrated in certain countries.

England
In England, many traditional foods can be found on the table during holidays. These include meats like ham, roast beef, and turkey. These are served with cranberry sauce or topping. There are also vegetable side dishes like corn, green beans, and squash. Of course, desserts are always present during meals. Examples of traditional English desserts are fruitcake, marzipan, mince pie, pumpkin pie and sugar cookies. Unfortunately, English muffins are not usually present at these occasions. English muffins are more of an everyday food. The dishes that are served during the holidays are special and meant solely for this occasion.

Throughout history, English beliefs regarding the holiday feast have fluctuated from being for it to being against it. During the olden times, feasts were customary. In fact, in the middle 1200s, during the time of Henry III, he ordered six hundred oxen to be slaughtered and served for the feast. Still, one redeeming factor that this ruler has is that he made it a custom to give food to the less fortunate. Richard II imitated Henry III's lavish ways. A feast hosted by Richard II had as much as ten thousand guests. With the coming of Martin Luther and his Reformation, feasting during the holidays was put to an end. It was replaced by praying and fasting. However, the practice of holiday feasting returned with the reign of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The royal couple preferred food such as eggnog, goose, roast beef, turkey, mince pie, plum pudding, Yorkshire pudding, and wassail.

France
People in France follow the tradition of going to midnight mass during the holidays. After the mass, they set up a lavish meal comprised of fish, chicken, soups, salads, bread, cheese, nuts, wine, and even candy. The feast lasts until dawn.

Germany
Germans traditionally celebrated the holidays as a thanksgiving for getting a good harvest. In the past, they served a boar head as their sacrifice. Through time, the boar was replaced by other meats like goose, pork, roast beef, and turkey.

United States
A traditional American holiday feast consists of special food that is only served during celebrations. One can hardly expect to see everyday food such as muffins on the table during the holidays. Although muffins taste good and are a part of American fare, during the holidays, they have to make way for special celebration dishes. These special dishes are similar to the English fare in that they include beef, ham, mincemeat pie, and turkey. Aside from these, there are also traditional American additions such as apple pie, eggnog, and roasted chestnuts.