What Holiday Dinners Looked Like Through The Decades - Tasting Table

"The holiday season is upon us, and that usually means it's time to start preparing, serving, and eating a heck of a lot of food. This time of year is about family, friends, and gift-giving, sure, but it's the food that many of us look forward to the most, let's be honest. And it's been that way for decades. We know this because we have scoured the internet to find out what people were eating during the holidays in each decade throughout the 20th century."

"In many ways, the 1900s set the tone for how many of us celebrate the holidays today. In 1905, for example, magazines reported worries about the enormous rush on Christmas trees in New York and the impact this would have on North American forests. Journalists and writers were starting to express concern about how commercialized the holidays were becoming, and silent movie theaters were streaming the festive classic "The Night Before Christmas" for the very first time."

The holiday season often centers on preparing, serving, and consuming large amounts of food. Family, friends, and gift-giving accompany elaborate meals, with food frequently the most anticipated element. Holiday spreads vary widely between families and across decades, producing no single unifying dish. Roast meats consistently feature, but the specific meats and accompanying side dishes evolved substantially over the 20th century. Early-century menus included roast goose paired with applesauce, boiled potatoes, and sweet potatoes, along with items like oyster patties and popovers. Later decades introduced different side dishes and preparations, reflecting changing tastes, availability, and culinary trends.

Read at Tasting Table