<P> In Poland and other parts of eastern Europe and Scandinavia, fish often is used for the traditional main course, but richer meat such as lamb is increasingly served . In Sweden it is common with a special variety of smörgåsbord, where ham, meatballs and herring play a prominent role . In Germany, France, and Austria, goose and pork are favored . Beef, ham, and chicken in various recipes are popular throughout the world . The Maltese traditionally serve Imbuljuta tal - Qastan, a chocolate and chestnuts beverage, after Midnight Mass and throughout the Christmas season . Slovaks prepare the traditional Christmas bread potica, bûche de Noël in France, panettone in Italy, and elaborate tarts and cakes . The eating of sweets and chocolates has become popular worldwide, and sweeter Christmas delicacies include the German stollen, marzipan cake or candy, and Jamaican rum fruit cake . As one of the few fruits traditionally available to northern countries in winter, oranges have been long associated with special Christmas foods . Eggnog is a sweetened dairy - based beverage traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar, and whipped eggs (which gives it a frothy texture). Spirits such as brandy, rum or bourbon are often added . The finished serving is often garnished with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon or nutmeg . </P> <P> Christmas cards are illustrated messages of greeting exchanged between friends and family members during the weeks preceding Christmas Day . The traditional greeting reads "wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", much like that of the first commercial Christmas card, produced by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843 . The custom of sending them has become popular among a wide cross-section of people with the emergence of the modern trend towards exchanging E-cards . </P> <P> Christmas cards are purchased in considerable quantities, and feature artwork, commercially designed and relevant to the season . The content of the design might relate directly to the Christmas narrative, with depictions of the Nativity of Jesus, or Christian symbols such as the Star of Bethlehem, or a white dove, which can represent both the Holy Spirit and Peace on Earth . Other Christmas cards are more secular and can depict Christmas traditions, mythical figures such as Santa Claus, objects directly associated with Christmas such as candles, holly and baubles, or a variety of images associated with the season, such as Christmastide activities, snow scenes and the wildlife of the northern winter . There are even humorous cards and genres depicting nostalgic scenes of the past such as crinolined shoppers in idealized 19th - century streetscapes . </P> <P> Some prefer cards with a poem, prayer, or Biblical verse; while others distance themselves from religion with an all - inclusive "Season's greetings". </P>

When did we have snow on christmas day