Christmas cookies by Photolinda on Flickr (CC-BY-NC)

Christmas means ‘coming home’ to many people – but when that isn’t possible, preparing a magic meal can be a consolation. Bloggers of many continents have shared their favorite holiday recipes. With these you can dream yourself back home or even visit a place you’ve never been to before. Where are you celebrating Christmas this year, and what are you serving?

Local specialties and secret family recipes for Christmas food are exactly what you need to create just the right feeling – whether it’s Brazilian breakfast rabanada, American sour creme coffee cake or Bulgarian pastry, banitsa.

Bon appetite and merry Xmas from Global Voices bloggers who shared links!

South Africa – ‘ms_kamini’ blogs on Deelishuss! and shares a recipe for an alternative eggnog that serves good in warm weather.

Tanzania – Make a traditional Pilau with guidance from Miriam Rose Kinunda on A Taste of Tanzania.

India – Both picture and text on Goan Food Recipes explain how to make Goan sweets specialties.

Indonesia – Indonesian food blog, Cooking and Baking Laboratory encourages beginners to try the Manado speciality, coconut soufflé Klapertaart.

Azerbaijan – Christmas is catching up among the youth in Baku, though not widely celebrated in Azerbaijan. Aygun Janmammadova recommends a filo strudel for mushrooms and cheese lovers and more Azerbaijan cuisine is shared on AZ Cookbook.

Bulgaria – Hit the Road Travel Blog promotes Banitsa – a popular pastry with the choice of pumpkin, cheese or spinach stuffing. Other recipes available in Bulgarian at Yellow Kitchen.

Ukraine – Try Veggie Prairie Girl Gerda’s version of the sweet wheat porridge kutia, or challenge yourself with the twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper described by Yasmin Coles on Friends Eat.

Estonia – Red cabbage and beets are part of the holiday season recipes on food-blog Nami Nami.

France – In Alsace the Christmas cookies, bredela, are prepared weeks in advance and go well with hot chocolate or spicy tea. Find your preferred version in French blogs Plumes d’Anges or La peau d’ourse.

Denmark – The online food community Friends Eat list the best of Danish Christmas dishes and include a video demonstration of the traditional Ris à la mande. EU Mom blog explains the traditions surrounding the food.

Latin America – The forum Intermaniacos shares great Latin American Christmas dishes: Hallacas from Venezuela, Colombian buñuelos con natilla, vitel toné from Argentina, tamal de puerco from México and Peruvian panetón.

Mexico – Freelance writer Lesley Téllez recommends ponche, a traditional Mexican Christmas punch.

Peru – Learn how to make a Peruvian classic, tamales, with this video of mom and daughter cooking duo.

Puerto Rico – The passionate cook, Elba, shares a complete YouTube videography demonstrating Puerto Rican Christmas dinner.

Trinidad & Tobago – Sarina Nicole aka. Trini Gourmet finds Trinidad's pastelles to be the seasonal delight.

United States – Kentucky based Joi's Get Cooking, provides recipes for both Christmas cookies and Christmas doughnuts.