More than 300 inmates set to spend Christmas Day behind bars in the ACT will tuck into a festive spread that will feature ham, turkey and pudding with custard for dessert.
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But restrictions on what can be brought into the Alexander Maconochie Centre mean prisoners won't be able to receive any presents from family members or friends who come to visit.
Corrections Minister Shane Rattenbury has offered some insight into what Christmas will look like within the walls of the territory's jail.
He said ACT Corrective Services tried to provide "as pleasant a day as possible" for inmates.
Hot turkey and ham with vegetables was on the lunch menu for Christmas Day. Prisoners would also be served pudding with custard for dessert.
Dinner was cold chicken, salad and dessert.
Vegetarian options were available for both lunch and dinner.
Mr Rattenbury said the jail's chaplaincy program ran multiple religious and spiritual services for detainees in the lead-up to Christmas.
"The AMC chaplains host ecumenical services in every area of the prison, and there are special services for Jewish, Muslim and Indigenous detainees.
"Detainees share Christmas cake at the ecumenical services and the AMC chaplains deliver small gifts to every detainee on Christmas Day.
"In addition, the Salvation Army distribute Christmas packs to detainees a week before Christmas, and a Tuggeranong church gives gift packs to all the female detainees."
While the annual Christmas Day spread lacked little, detainees weren't allowed to receive external gifts.
ACT criminologist David Biles said inmates often experienced heightened emotions and feelings of remorse around birthdays, anniversaries and important holiday celebrations such as Christmas.
"I have no doubt similar things would be happening at prisons all around Australia.
"Even though people are in jail at this time, they are members of our community and we should recognise the emotional loneliness of a time like Christmas."
About 330 prisoners are expected to spend Christmas Day behind bars in the ACT.
There were 342 detainees in the AMC on December 25 last year.
The prison's visits schedule won't be affected by public holidays and family and friends could still visit detainees.
ACTION buses has scheduled a complimentary service between Civic and the AMC on Christmas Day.
