Food plays an important part in unifying people from around the world. People of different ethnicities, countries, and languages would cherish the food of another culture. It highlights the powerful role of food which transcends language, and cultural barriers, and lets people indulge in one moment of togetherness with each other. Furthermore, the significance of food is visible on celebrations and special occasions such as weddings, Independence Day, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, wedding anniversaries, etc. This guide would help you in looking at the role of food and the deeper meaning attached to it on various celebrated occasions.
Role of Food in Celebrations
Food is often associated with a source of joy, a symbol of tradition, connecting families, and fostering a sense of community among people due to its shared factor. Let’s discover how food always comes into the limelight on holidays and especially in cultural celebrations around the globe:
1. Capodanno and Natale
Italy is famous for its celebrations on public holidays and rich cultural heritage which knows no parallel. Similarly, Italy on holidays of New Year’s Day which is known as Capodanno and Christmas which is known as Natale respectively. During family gatherings, and festivities special Italian cuisines are relished including pasta, fettuccine Alfredo, lasagna, tomato sauce and mozzarella pizza. Italian food is so diverse and brings a perfect harmony of many flavors together in one bite.
2. Christmas
Christmas is extensively celebrated around the world, keeping in mind the regional customs and cultural traditions attached to it. The main course for Christmas is roasted turkey or ham often served with cranberry sauce, gravy and different types of tasty stuffings for dinner. Moreover, roasted beef, Christmas Goose, Christmas pudding, gingerbread, chestnuts, eggnog, fruitcake, seafood and Torchière are often served in different regions of the world.
3. Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is another important blessed holiday which brings families together in a joyful moment of thanking your Lord. On Thanksgiving main course is roasted turkey, with pumpkin pie and different types of stuffing and pumpkin pie.
4. Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a culturally rich holiday with a deeper meaning of significance attached to the type of food served on this day. Commonly, fish represent prosperity and dumplings represent abundance and wealth. Moreover, cherished Chinese food eaten together at family gatherings contains a deep meaning of affection while glutinous rice cake represents good luck.
5. Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year consists of a wide range of symbolic dishes, mostly celebrated in Asian countries.
In Korea, a rice cake soup named tteokguk is a traditional dish eaten to mark an older year. While, at this time of the year noodles symbolize longevity. Moreover, Japanese traditional New Year dishes include osechi which includes Kuromame, Kazunko, Konu and more. If you visit Japanese restaurant then you will find Nishiki Tamago, Konbu, Kaiseki, Kagami Mochi, Soba Noodles and most importantly Ozoni a special soup enjoyed on New Year’s Day.