Wikipedia-Vasilopita is a New Year's Day bread or cake in Greece. It contains a hidden coin or trinket which gives good luck to the receiver. It is made of a variety of doughs, depending on regional and family tradition, including tsoureki.

Stollen is a traditional German cake made with dry fruits and topped with sugar, powdered sugar, or a glazed icing. Much like a fruitcake, the cake incorporates chopped candied fruit, dried fruit, nuts and spices. Usually made in a loaf, it is commonly eaten during the Christmas season, when it is called Weihnachtsstollen or Christstollen. A similar cake, found in Dutch cuisine, is called a Kerststol in Dutch, while in Italian cuisine the panettone also shows a likeness.

Working for the Multi Cultural Cooking Network is a learning way, so when Chef John Taylor, of the Oceanaire in Baltimore, literally lit up my dessert in front of me, I must say I was kind of curious. He then proceeded to tell my dining companion and me that the dessert is called Baked Alaska!  

Known as Pebernødder in Denmark, peppernut cookies are found in all of the Nordic countries as well as Germany and the US. They are called "pfeffernüesse" in the United States, "pfeffernüssen" in Germany, "pepperkaker" in Norway, "pepparnotter" in Sweden, "peppernoten" in Holland and even "piparkukas" in Latvia. In South Germany, they are known as "Eiweißgebäck". They are also known as "Pimpernüsse" in some places.

The Easter Bunny hopped its way into holiday lore during the 1500’s. The concept of the Easter Bunny was first observed in 15^th century German text and the first edible Easter bunnies were created from pastry and sugar in 18^th century Germany.

There is some debate regarding tiramisu's origin. It may have originated as a variation of another layered dessert, the Zuppa Inglese.

Sechseläuten ("The six o'clock ringing of the bells") takes place every year on the third Monday in April. The holiday occurs in Zurich, Switzerland and signifies the end of winter and the subsequent beginning of spring. Dating back to medieval times, where six bell chimes were used to signify the end of long winter work hours, the holiday uses the bell ringing to announce the end of winter.

English Crackers are decorative party favors used for a variety of special occasions including, weddings, dinner parties, and Christmas tree trimmings. Crackers consist of a wrapped and decorated cardboard tube containing a paper crown (tissue hat), a message (Joke or riddle), a cracker (popping device), and a small gift or novelty item.

Citrus fruits have been cultivated in Sicily for some time and cultivation has been documented since the time of Moorish rule. While Arabs are credited with originally planting lemons and bitter oranges in Sicily, the Genovese and Portuguese crusaders introduced the sweet variety, Portogallo, in the 15th century.

A mince pie, also known as minced pie, is a small British sweet pie traditionally served during the Christmas season. Its ingredients are traceable to the 13th century, when returning European crusaders brought with them Middle Eastern recipes containing meats, fruits and spices.

Gazpacho has ancient roots. There are a number of theories of its origin, including as an Arab soup of bread, olive oil, water and garlic that arrived in Spain with the Moors, or via the Romans with the addition of vinegar.Once in Spain it became a part of Andalusian cuisine, particularly Seville, using stale bread, garlic, olive oil, salt, and vinegar, similar to ajoblanco.

“We wish you a Merry Christmas,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “ Hark the Heralds Angels Sing” - what is your first thought when you hear these titles? Christmas carols, right? Oh how we love to sing these songs at this most wonderful time of the year. We are instantly filled with the joy of the season as we sing along on with the local radio station that has now converted its programming to Christmas carols 24-7. However, don’t be mistaken everything you hear on these stations is not considered a Christmas carol; some are merely Christmas songs.  

Once upon a time people went out a-wassailing, going from door to door sharing good cheer and merriment. The practice of Christmas caroling as we know it dates back to the 19^th century in Victorian England. Before the culture of carols, wassailing, a word deriving from the Old English term that encouraged good health for your neighbors, had  an ulterior motive. Behind the door-to-door singing,  for instance, in the song “Here We Come-A-Wassailing,” (now known as ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’) the intent stated tells neighbors to “Bring us some figgy pudding.” And they meant it! Figgy pudding is a dessert dating back to the 16^th century in England. It is a white Christmas pudding containing figs, which can be boiled, baked, steamed in the oven or fried. It is also considered a spice-cake-like souffle (See the recipe).

Wassail is a hot, spiced punch often associated with Yuletide. Historically, the drink was a mulled ale made with sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and topped with slices of toast. Modern recipes begin with a base of wine, fruit juice, or mulled ale, sometimes with brandy or sherry added. Pieces of winter fruits, such as apples or oranges, are often added to the mix. Particularly popular in Germanic countries, the term itself is a contraction of the Middle English phrase wæs hæil, meaning "be healthy". The origins of the practice of wassailing are closely connected with the history of the wassail.