Ham is a crowd-pleasing choice for any office or corporate holiday gathering. Its rich, comforting flavor brings a warm, celebratory feeling to the table. This year, partner with a reliable catering company to serve your team a delicious holiday meal for a memorable event with less planning-related stress.
What Is Christmas Ham?
A traditional Virginia baked ham is a holiday showstopper known for its smoky sweetness. A glaze made with mouthwatering ingredients like brown sugar, honey and spices creates a glossy, caramelized finish that locks in moisture, adds depth and creates an irresistible centerpiece for your seasonal gathering.
Why Do We Eat Ham for Christmas?
Ham has earned its place as a beloved Christmas tradition, offering a hearty, satisfying meal. It is often more affordable than other holiday mains like turkey or beef and easier to prepare for a crowd.
Ham’s enduring popularity has centuries of tradition behind it, passed down through generations as a symbol of warmth and togetherness. Whether served at a family dinner or your next company holiday party, Christmas ham brings comfort and cheer to the table.
The History of the Christmas Ham Tradition
Celebrating Christmas with a delicious ham has a long history in Northern Europe and the Anglosphere.
Pagan Origins
Archaeological evidence reveals that people in the pagan and pre-Christian Neolithic period celebrated the winter solstice by eating pork during midwinter feasts. In the Viking Age, Norse pagans sacrificed and feasted on wild boar during the Yule festival opens in a new window, honoring Freyr, the god of good harvests and fertility.
Pigs were a reliable and practical food source during these periods. Curing pork helped families stock a meat supply to last through the long winter months, and the cured ham was often a staple at midwinter festivals.
Christian Traditions
Pagan feasts gradually evolved into Christian traditions as the religion spread. Early Christians borrowed many practices from pagan winter festivals opens in a new window, incorporating them into their burgeoning faith.
In medieval times, a boar’s head was often the centerpiece of Christmas feasts because it symbolized Christ’s triumph over sin and death. Wild boar eventually became scarce, so people started to consume more alternative pork products such as ham.
American Tradition
Eating ham for Christmas became an American tradition when English settlers arrived and continued their practices. It became especially popular in the South due to the region’s abundance of pig farms. This tradition remains popular throughout the U.S. today.
Delicious Side Dishes to Complement a Christmas Ham
When you choose a ham as the centerpiece of your next gathering, consider pairing it with the following side dishes to create a cozy holiday feast.
- Au gratin potatoes: Au gratin potatoes are a rich, creamy complement to a savory baked ham. Their decadent, cheesy flavor is an irresistible contrast to the ham, and their heartiness makes a meal feel festive and substantial.
- Mashed potatoes: Buttery mashed potatoes are a quintessential holiday side dish.
- Parsley and baby carrots: Baby carrots offer a touch of sweetness and brighten up your plate, and parsley adds a mild herbaceous flavor that complements the richness of the main course.
- Steamed vegetables: Steamed vegetables are another excellent option, offering a healthy, tender-crisp side packed with nutrients.
- Crisp garden salad: A crisp garden salad offers a light, fresh balance to a Christmas meal. This refreshing side dish or first course prevents the meal from feeling too heavy, letting each guest enjoy the full spread.
- Fresh-baked rolls and cinnamon butter: Soft, warm, freshly baked rolls provide a comforting element to your meal. Cinnamon butter creates a subtle aroma and sweetness that adds another layer of festive flavor to your gathering.
The Best Beverage Pairings for a Christmas Ham
The following drinks are superb pairings with a Christmas ham dinner.
- Sparkling cider: Light, fruity notes provide a refreshing contrast to a savory ham.
- A crisp Riesling: Treat your guests to a sweet wine with notes of lime, apple and minerality.
- A light-bodied Pinot Noir: Lighter-bodied red wines have a delicate structure, subtle fruitiness, smoky notes and earthy undertones.
- An amber ale: Amber ales typically have a balanced profile with toasted malt or caramel flavors. They offer a moderate hop bitterness with fruity esters and a malty sweetness.
- A seasonal lager: Seasonal lagers brewed for winter often have a slightly richer malt character than standard lagers. You can expect a hint of subtle sweetness or spice with a crisp, refreshing finish.
Advantages of Catering Your Next Office Holiday Gathering
Catering your next holiday gathering is a fantastic way to treat your office to a delicious ham feast with benefits like these.
Easier Planning
A professional caterer can check off many to-do list items for you. You can decide which main dish and side dishes your party would prefer and let the catering company handle the rest, or trust an experienced caterer to create a unique menu for you.
Money and Time Savings
Organizing a company potluck can quickly become a logistical juggling act. Even if you repeatedly send reminders, people may forget to sign up, or you may discover multiple team members plan to bring the same seasonal favorite.
Hiring a professional caterer streamlines the experience and removes these burdens. It’s also a cost-effective solution, as catering services typically come prepared to serve a well-rounded, crowd-pleasing menu and bring everything from cutlery to chafing dishes. Relax and let the pros take care of the details.
Efficiency
Catering streamlines your corporate event. Experienced caterers know how to create an excellent dining experience, taking preorders and serving hot plated meals to each guest. Professional caterers can also accommodate dietary needs, adapting side dishes and offering alternatives to serve every guest a seamless, satisfying meal.
Bring Christmas Cheer to the Office With Apple Spice Catering
A Christmas ham and mouthwatering side dishes set the table for a delicious, memorable holiday gathering. Apple Spice Catering delivers hot boxed catering to your location or provides an exceptional, restaurant-like dining experience in your event space. We can create a unique, customized menu tailored to your employees’ preferences and dietary restrictions. Our servers always arrive on time, giving you peace of mind so you can enjoy your event more.
Many of our locations feature a special holiday menu with Virginia baked ham, au gratin potatoes, a crisp garden salad, baby carrots with parsley, freshly baked rolls and cinnamon butter. With over 30 years of experience in catering, our team promises to serve delicious meals for any occasion. Find a location near you to place an order for your next corporate holiday gathering.
