Festive Drinks Around the World: What People Drink on Their Biggest Holidays — and Why
Celebrations are a universal human experience, and so are the drinks that accompany them. Whether marking a religious festival, a national holiday, or a seasonal tradition, people across the globe reach for specific beverages that carry cultural, historical, and emotional significance. These drinks are more than refreshment — they’re part of the identity of the celebration itself. Let’s take a global tour of traditional holiday beverages and the fascinating reasons behind their popularity.
1. United Kingdom – Christmas and Mulled Wine
In the UK, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a steaming mug of mulled wine. This spiced, heated red wine has been associated with winter festivities since Roman times. The warmth of the drink pairs well with cold December weather, and the blend of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and citrus evokes nostalgia and comfort. In addition to its flavor, mulled wine is seen as a communal drink — one that’s made in large batches and shared among friends and family.
2. United States – Thanksgiving and Pumpkin Spice Lattes (and Eggnog for Christmas)
While pumpkin spice lattes may not be a “traditional” drink in the historical sense, they’ve become an iconic symbol of fall and Thanksgiving in the U.S. The blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger reflects the flavors of pumpkin pie — a staple dessert at Thanksgiving dinners. For Christmas, eggnog takes the spotlight. Rich, creamy, and often spiked with bourbon or rum, eggnog has colonial roots and represents indulgence during the holiday season.
3. Germany – Oktoberfest and Beer
Oktoberfest, held annually in Munich and celebrated worldwide, is essentially a tribute to beer. Rooted in Bavarian royal history, it has grown into the world’s largest beer festival. The beverage of choice is Märzen, a traditional Bavarian beer brewed in March and stored for months before being consumed in the fall. Beer’s popularity during Oktoberfest symbolizes German craftsmanship and cultural pride in brewing.
4. Mexico – Día de los Muertos and Atole
During Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), families honor their ancestors with altars, marigolds, and traditional foods and drinks. One of the most cherished beverages is atole, a warm, thick drink made from masa (corn dough), cinnamon, vanilla, and piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar). Atole has indigenous roots and represents a spiritual connection to ancestors. It’s also comforting and filling, fitting for long nights of celebration and remembrance.
5. Japan – New Year and Sake
In Japan, New Year (Shōgatsu) is the most significant holiday of the year. A ceremonial drink called otoso, a spiced sake, is traditionally consumed on January 1st to ward off illness and invite good fortune. Sake itself is deeply embedded in Japanese culture and is often associated with purity and spiritual offerings. The act of sipping sake slowly during family gatherings creates a quiet, reverent tone fitting for New Year reflections.
6. Russia – New Year and Champagne
Unlike many Western countries that associate champagne with Christmas or weddings, Russians drink champagne to welcome the New Year. This custom originated in the Soviet era, when domestic sparkling wine was one of the few luxury items available. Today, toasting with champagne at midnight is an enduring ritual. Many also follow it with shots of vodka, another cultural staple — especially during extended holiday meals.
7. India – Holi and Bhang Thandai
Holi, the festival of colors, is known for its vibrant, playful atmosphere and the drink that matches it: bhang thandai. This cold, sweet, spiced milk drink contains bhang — an edible preparation of cannabis, which is legal during certain religious festivals in India. Consuming it is part of a centuries-old tradition meant to liberate the mind and body, aligning with Holi’s themes of joy, mischief, and spiritual renewal.
8. Brazil – Carnival and Caipirinha
During Brazil’s iconic Carnival, the streets pulse with music, dancing, and merrymaking. The drink most associated with this high-energy celebration is the caipirinha — a cocktail made from cachaça (a sugarcane spirit), lime, sugar, and ice. It’s refreshing and strong, the perfect match for the heat of Brazilian summer and the electric atmosphere of Carnival.
9. China – Lunar New Year and Baijiu
Lunar New Year in China is marked by feasts, family reunions, and plenty of toasts with baijiu, a powerful grain liquor with a high alcohol content. Baijiu has been part of Chinese culture for thousands of years and is seen as a way to show respect, form bonds, and seal good fortune for the coming year. Its strong flavor is matched by its ceremonial importance.
10. Ethiopia – Meskel and Tej
Meskel, an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian festival celebrating the finding of the True Cross, is one of the country’s most significant holidays. During this time, tej, a traditional honey wine, is often consumed. Brewed with gesho leaves (a bittering agent similar to hops), tej is sweet, sour, and aromatic. Drinking it from a bulbous glass called a berele is part of the experience and reflects Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage.
Across these diverse traditions, beverages play a powerful symbolic and sensory role. Whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic, warm or cold, spiced or sweet, holiday drinks embody national identity, spiritual beliefs, and seasonal moods. They are part of the storytelling of each celebration, passed down through generations and adapted over time.
In fact, many modern takes on these traditional beverages — such as bottled eggnogs, ready-made caipirinhas, or non-alcoholic atole mixes — are thanks to innovation in the food and drink industry. Behind the scenes, a beverage development company may be responsible for modernizing and preserving these beloved recipes, ensuring they are enjoyed by wider audiences without losing their cultural essence.
As global interest in cultural traditions grows, so too does the appreciation for the drinks that make celebrations feel complete — raising a glass, cup, or gourd to joy, memory, and human connection.