- Historian Angela Clutton reveals what we used to feast on in 1901
- There was often a fish course and we would tuck into Dover sole and syllabub
- Futurologist Laura Van Eeckhout predicts we may all eat Persian turkey in 2042
Christmas dinner is the most traditional meal of the year, and many families look forward to enjoying the same combination of turkey, roast potatoes and gravy every single holiday.
But we haven’t always tucked into the foods we do now, a historian has revealed.
And our festive lunch may well change in the future too, as a futurologist predicts we could be having some very unusual ingredients on our plates in 25 years time.
From dover sole and orange syllabub in 1901, to charcoal choux pastry and bars made out of crickets in 2042, a fascinating photo series commissioned by Lurpak reveals the weird and wonderful foods we used to eat on December 25, and the ones we might be tucking into in the future.
1901
Historian Angela Clutton revealed that many families cooked baked Dover sole topped with brown shrimps for Christmas dinner in 1901 as they would have a fish course after the starter and before the roast goose or turkey
![Angela also revealed that a classic Christmas dessert in 1901 was orange syllabub - a pudding of whipped cream, sugar, a type of alcohol and a citrus flavour - with shortbread fingers](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/30/16/46D7F18D00000578-5133289-image-a-16_1512059530837.jpg)
Angela also revealed that a classic Christmas dessert in 1901 was orange syllabub – a pudding of whipped cream, sugar, a type of alcohol and a citrus flavour – with shortbread fingers
![No roast potatoes in sight! Potato boulettes - like a cross between a potato croquette and a dumpling - were a common side dish at Christmas dinners in the UK in 1901. Historian Angela explained: 'Potatoes weren’t generally roasted like we have them now, but prepared in all kinds of interesting ways, such as potato "boulettes"'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/30/16/46D7F18500000578-5133289-image-a-18_1512059774638.jpg)
No roast potatoes in sight! Potato boulettes – like a cross between a potato croquette and a dumpling – were a common side dish at Christmas dinners in the UK in 1901. Historian Angela explained: ‘Potatoes weren’t generally roasted like we have them now, but prepared in all kinds of interesting ways, such as potato “boulettes”‘
2017
![Yule logs - which originated in Scandinavia - are a staple Christmas dessert on tables up and down the country and at Christmas they are often decorated with figurines and other festive tokens](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/30/16/46D7F13900000578-5133289-image-a-19_1512060309103.jpg)
Yule logs – which originated in Scandinavia – are a staple Christmas dessert on tables up and down the country and at Christmas they are often decorated with figurines and other festive tokens
![Many families opt for a festive maple-glazed ham or gammon in the US and UK instead of turkey these days as the meat is much more succulent](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/30/16/46D7F19500000578-5133289-image-a-20_1512060376621.jpg)
Many families opt for a festive maple-glazed ham or gammon in the US and UK instead of turkey these days as the meat is much more succulent
2042
![Instead of mince pies and Christmas pudding, futurologist Laura Van Eeckhout of consumer trends specialist Foresight Factory predicts we could be tucking into festive chocolate bars that contain roasted crickets as insects are a very sustainable source of food and could help feed a booming population](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/30/16/46D7F15500000578-5133289-image-a-22_1512060475303.jpg)
Instead of mince pies and Christmas pudding, futurologist Laura Van Eeckhout of consumer trends specialist Foresight Factory predicts we could be tucking into festive chocolate bars that contain roasted crickets as insects are a very sustainable source of food and could help feed a booming population
![Laura envisages that we'll be more influenced by trends from Africa and the Middle East in the future, perhaps creating a heavily spiced Persian-inspired turkey studded with pomegranate seeds](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/30/16/46D7F17D00000578-5133289-image-a-21_1512060472975.jpg)
Laura envisages that we’ll be more influenced by trends from Africa and the Middle East in the future, perhaps creating a heavily spiced Persian-inspired turkey studded with pomegranate seeds
![Laura also predicts we'll be using a lot more charcoal in our baking in 2042, perhaps creating some charcoal choux pastry sandwich treats such as these ones](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/30/16/46D7F14D00000578-5133289-image-a-23_1512060914494.jpg)
Laura also predicts we’ll be using a lot more charcoal in our baking in 2042, perhaps creating some charcoal choux pastry sandwich treats such as these ones
The Lurpak Christmas tree will be at Briggate, Leeds (December 1 to 3), Castle Street, Edinburgh (December 8 – 10) and Covent Garden, London (December 15 – 17).