Food scientist: "A Christmas buffet on the verge of disappearing"

In the 19th century, you ate a lot of pork tenderloin, salted beef and jams for Christmas. 2018 selects many green alternatives instead.picture: Fredrik Sandberg / TT

Although Swedes are rather conservative about "what must" be on the Christmas table, the big party changes constantly. The sumptuous buffet table that we usually see today is, for example, a tradition that was first celebrated in the 1970s.

"Before that, Christmas Eve was three, with three dishes with a Christmas sandwich table, a main course and a dessert," says Richard Tellström, researcher in restoration at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and at Stockholm University.

Today, with the buffet format, we can choose and wrap ourselves among what we are sucking ourselves, Tellström calls "a result of movement 68".

"It was the time when we talked a lot about antiquity, the moment when you can choose exactly what you want.

But the Christmas tradition itself is much older than that. For example, fresh ribs, bread, butter and beer arrived at the Christmas table almost a thousand years ago.

Christmas ham was put forward during the last decade of the 19th century. Before that, the so-called Christmas pig, kept alive a little longer, had been shot around lucia. From the pig, you then made ribs for Christmas food, while the buttocks were salted and kept until the summer.

"These are the hipsters sensitive to the trends of the 19th century, then the national Romans, who placed it on the Christmas table.

According to the organization of the industry, the latest food survey, ham is now Sweden's absolute favorite on the Christmas table, although its popularity is steadily declining. In 2013, 34% of survey respondents said the Christmas hammer was their favorite on the Christmas table. 2018, this figure is 25%.

– I suspect that he is picked up by another. The Christmas table is enlarging, there are more and more dishes. And in this way, the Christmas table becomes smaller and less associated with the Christmas candle.

Even our new schemes register, think Tellström. Today, many vegetarians, flexitarians and vegetarians are generally less interested in meat perceived as industrial.

"And Christmas ham has a small aura of industrial production," says Tellström.

Instead, more green dishes and accessories will take place on the Christmas table, according to Foods.

"The green is a super global trend, which is causing many businesses to change their demand," said Björn Hellman, CEO of the food business.

He tells you that you would not want to disagree with classic dishes and choose ecological options such as swallows (herring mushrooms), pea protein and veggie shovels.

According to Richard Tellström, it also seems that we are returning to the dinner at three o'clock in the morning, an effect he calls himself at the "family Christmas table as a bonus".

"Today, when we have family bonuses, exams and plastic children, and we have several celebrations on the same day, things are getting pretty complicated. Then it's easier to go around the tree, "he says.

Another trend that he sees is to invite you to a small party meal mixing seafood and bubble on Christmas Eve. Not only family is welcome but also friends and acquaintances.

"I think the 70's Christmas buffet is coming out, even though it may take 25 years before it's completely gone, it will definitely change into something that better fits the This is the same with trends and traditions, they change and change shape.