It is a tradition that has existed for centuries in Northern Europe and many English-speaking countries. Many believe the practice dates back to pre-Christian times and the worship of Freyr, the Norse fertility god.

The Yule festival is now primarily associated with Christmas in Germanic countries. However, many of its traditions, such as the Yule log and wassail or the Yule ham, are believed to have pagan roots. The Ham was originally a gift to Freyr, whose sacred boar animal was. On Yule Eve, the boar was sacrificed.

In Sweden, this tradition is still carried out in small cakes shaped like pigs, consumed during Christmas. It also lives on in other countries as the much-loved Christmas ham. In the past, many families kept a pig raised in spring, grew fat in summer, and then slaughtered at harvest. The meat was ready to be served at Christmas by midwinter.

How to prepare Ham

Make your best-ever Christmas Ham by following these simple steps.

Choose your Ham

Ham comes in many different varieties, and each should be handled differently.

Raw Ham hasn’t been pre-cooked and must be thoroughly boiled to an interior temperature of 165degF before serving.

City Ham is a type of Ham that’s widely available. These hams are already brined, smoked, or boiled. You can eat them cold, but many people prefer to glaze them and reheat them for an extra special treat.

Country Ham has a more intense flavor than its city cousin. It has a sweeter, nuttier, and extra-salty flavor. Dry-cured with salt and other seasonings and often smoked on fragrant hardwoods. It can be aged from a few weeks to several years. Country ham is usually soaked before cooking to remove some of its saltiness.

Use bone-in Ham

Both hams on and off the bone are available, but the joints with the bone in have a more flavorful taste and make for a better centerpiece. After you have finished your Ham, the bone can enhance the flavor of soups and stocks.

Make sure there is enough to go around

If you are wondering how much Ham you will need for your family, you should have about 3/4 lb of Ham per person. You don’t have to consider the weight of the ham bone if your Ham is not boneless. 1/4 lb per person should be enough. There are many delicious ways to use leftover Ham, so going overboard is best.

Use a glaze

Add a glaze to your pork ham to bring out the flavors. Most families have recipes with sweet or spicy ingredients such as fruit juice, honey, brown sugar or preserves, spices, or alcohol.

Make it Right

Here are some foolproof tips for baking the perfect Ham.

You must bake a precooked ham for 10 minutes per pound at 350degF.

Make a tent out of foil to cover the Ham so that moisture doesn’t escape.

Every 20 minutes, baste the Ham in pan juices and brush with additional glaze.

Remove the foil for 3 to 4 minutes and broil the meat until the ice turns golden brown.

Let it sit for 15 minutes, then carve.

Look at the ten best ham recipes to serve on your Christmas table if you are looking for some inspiration.

Glazed roast ham

This ham recipe is simple but full of flavor. It’s glazed in sugar and English Mustard for the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The skin of the Ham is adorned with cloves and a diamond-shaped pattern. It’s a beautiful centerpiece for your Christmas table.

Smoked ham roast

This fiery, fruity glaze, made from honey, lemon, orange marmalade, and ginger, is the perfect foil to rich, smoky Ham.

Apricot-mustard Ham

This recipe from Delicious combines apricot jam and brown mustard to create a sweet, fruity, spicy glaze for hams at Christmas. Serve with roasted potatoes, carrots, and radishes for extra sweet, spicy goodness.

Champagne Baked Ham

The perfect Christmas ham glaze is champagne. This glazed Ham is made from maple syrup, pineapples, and mild Dijon mustard. It’s ideal for those who prefer their Ham a bit sweeter but with less heat.

Pineapple-glazed Ham

This pineapple glazed Ham from Country Living uses five perfectly balanced ingredients, proving the old saying, “Less is more.”

Orange-coriander glazed Ham

This glaze is a sophisticated blend of sweet and earthy flavors. It combines orange marmalade, coriander seeds, vinegar, and black pepper.

Baked Ham with a cherry bourbon glaze

This smoky and boozy ham recipe from Delicious is a great way to try something new. The bourbon, honey, cayenne, and sour cherry flavors combine to enhance Ham’s savory and salty flavors. The Ham is spiral-cut, which allows the glaze to run between each piece and cover it completely. However, because the recipe isn’t too sweet, the Ham doesn’t become overpowering.

Ham for Christmas with pomegranate

This glaze is a sophisticated option from Olive magazine. It is not overly sweet and has pomegranate juice, pomegranate syrup, and fennel seeds with aniseed and earthy flavors. You can also get a bonus recipe for a sweet and savory pomegranate relish.

Baked Ham with sticky raisins, tamarind relish, and chipotle relish

The richly flavored Ham from Delicious magazine is a dish that requires a few extra steps, but the result will be a delicious meal with multiple layers of flavor. This stunning centerpiece is boiled with herbs and cider, baked in a sugar-mustard glaze, and served alongside a spicy, sweet-tart relish made of tamarinds, raisins, and chipotle peppers.

Ham with a spicy, lime-salted crust and a jalapeno salsa

This Mexican-inspired Ham from Delicious Magazine is a great way to enjoy Mexican flavors. Instead of honey and mustard, use mango salsa and Jalapeno Chilis. Adding some fiery red chilies, you can keep it sweet and mild with jalapenos or up the heat.

Look at the ideas for Christmas dinner to get you in the holiday spirit.