Tis' the season!

For people across countless faiths, creeds, and observances, the holiday season is one that's often defined by food. From Yorkshire Pudding in the UK to Stollen in Germany and cheap gingerbread cookies sold in American malls, food can leave some of the most vivid sensory memories in a season that's great at producing them. It doesn't matter whether it's a classic Christmas feast or just some UberEats, something about the holidays just begs to form food traditions, even if it's just the anniversary of a quiet yesteryear moment with a good meal.

Fun fact: Did you know that Kentucky Fried Chicken is considered a Christmas delicacy in urban Japan? 

It doesn't matter whether you're planning a family reunion or a quiet holiday season: you'll inevitably find yourself stressing out about making sure a meal is appropriately "festive". When that time comes—and you have the extended family coming over for the first time since 2019 in a couple of minutes—there's always an alternative to consider: sushi. 

Yes, sushi. 

Let's take a look.

There's No Tradition to Uphold

Everyone has a fond memory of homemade Christmas food. This also means everyone has harsh, subjective standards for what makes "good" Christmas food. Nothing deflates an evening like serving the perfect hot chocolate, only to have it negatively compared to the stuff that Grandpa Steven used to drink out of a tin can in the postwar boom. Meanwhile, nobody is going to approach a sushi dinner with expectations for what "holiday sushi" should look like.

Sushi Is Automatically Classy

It's a well-known fact that eating sushi immediately adds a layer of class to the occasion. It doesn't matter if you're on a promising first date or just chowing down on some California roll takeout during a late-night Hulu marathon—sushi is classy either way. Nobody in your circle (whether it's your family or friends) is going to fuss over whether sushi is "fancy" enough to warrant being a holiday dinner. If they do, just eject them from the table. And then your life. You don't need that kind of negativity. 

It's Clean(ish)

If you're serving sushi at home, you'll see one of the biggest benefits when it comes time to clean up. Regardless of whichever way you serve sushi at home, it's guaranteed to be less of a mess than virtually any other holiday food, both in the kitchen and the dining room. Even if you're one of those madmen who insists on making your own sushi for several dozen guests, it still won't be as messy as any recipe that involves a French word—like one that requires making a "roux," or a "mirepoix."

 Eating Out Is a Perfect Escape

One of the most quietly stressful aspects of the holidays is the fact that there are very few places where you can go in order to get quiet time, especially if your Christmas involves some sort of visitor situation. Even in places with social distancing recommendations, public areas are pretty crowded. Godspeed if you try to go to a mall. Restaurants usually aren't much better: expect long wait times, overworked wait staff, and the obligatory screaming child. 

That's where sushi can be an absolute lifesaver. While no sushi restaurant is going to be a ghost town in the restaurant-crazy winter of 2021, they're often not subject to the same manic holiday rush as more "traditional" restaurants. This translates to some of the few truly peaceful spaces that can be found during the rush of the holiday season. 

And, regardless of how many magical, reflective spaces you visit over the holiday season, only one type of them is (probably) going to serve salmon avocado rolls!