page_title: Christmas dinner
section_title: Romania
hierarchical_section_title: Christmas dinner / Europe / Romania
caption_attribution_description: English: A plate of Romanian food: Sarma and Mamaliga. Română: O farfurie cu mâncare românească: Sărmăluţe şi mămăligă. Italiano: Un piatto tipico rumeno: sarma (involtini di cavolo) e mămăligă (polenta). 日本語: ルーマニアとモルドヴァに共通の料理サルマーレ (ロールキャベツ・手前) とママリガ (トウモロコシ粉の粥・右奥)
context_page_description: Christmas dinner is a meal traditionally eaten at Christmas. This meal can take place any time from the evening of Christmas Eve to the evening of Christmas Day itself. The meals are often particularly rich and substantial, in the tradition of the Christian feast day celebration, and form a significant part of gatherings held to celebrate the arrival of Christmastide. In many cases, there is a ritual element to the meal related to the religious celebration, such as the praying of grace.
  The actual meal consumed varies in different parts of the world with regional cuisines and local traditions. In many parts of the world, particularly former British colonies, the meal shares some connection with the English Christmas dinner involving roasted meats and pudding of some description. The Christmas pudding and Christmas cake evolved from this tradition.
  In countries without a lengthy Christian tradition, such as Japan, the Christmas meal may be more heavily influenced by popular culture.
context_section_description: Romanian food served during the holidays is a large multi-coursed meal, most of which consists of pork (organs, muscle, and fat). This is mainly a symbolic gesture for St. Ignatius of Antioch.
  During Christmastime, Romanians bake or buy various special dishes, including desserts, sweets or fries. Romanians most usually bake Cozonac, a cake made of flour, yolks, yeast and many other dependable ingredients, flavors, condiments and additions. There are several types of cozonac, with numerous recipes. Other Christmas dishes include piftie, sarmale or pork dishes.
caption: Sarmale with Mămăligă on a Christmas table.
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