Holiday food traditions bring cultures together

Amber Warner WAR05005@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

The holidays are officially on the way. Parties, gatherings, festivities and the list goes on. With all of the celebrating, this time of year seems to have one thing in common — food.

Food is a major part of cultures throughout the world. Overall, food unites people with family, friends and strangers alike.

It’s socializing time!

Not only is food necessary for survival, it has become a socializing aspect in society as well.

Feasting is a common practice that unites people. Webster’s Dictionary defines feast as “a large elaborate meal, usually for many people” and “to eat heartily with pleasure.”

“We have a sense of social connectedness while eating,” said Ronald Jacques, a psychology Professor at BYU-Idaho. “Celebrations are associated with food, which bring people together in a common purpose or goal.”

So whether it’s feasting at Thanksgiving or just gathering as roommates to binge on ice cream, eating a lot of food gives people the chance to socialize and form strong bonds with friends and family.

Where the Church is, there food is also

It has become a stereotype that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and food are synonymous. But many religions combine food with their festivities.

Islam is one of many that celebrate with feasts. The Eid Milad-un-Nabi, commemorates the anniversary of the birth of one of their Holy Prophets. At this time, large feasts are arranged and rice and meat dishes are served to guests and distributed among the poor, according to Dates and Meanings of Religious and Other Festivals, a book by John G. Walshe and Shrikala Warrier.

It isn’t only about the food, but can also be “a physical act to show us spiritual truth,” said BYU-I religion professor, Doug Ladle.

Lunch time ... or not?

Mashed Potatoes and gravy. Mom’s homemade bread. Hot apple pie for dessert. Hungry? Too bad, it’s fast Sunday.

Fasting can be seen as the opposite of feasting, but is just as common and regularly practiced in many religions throughout the world.

Fasting has always existed and was even practiced by Adam, Eve and their posterity. It is “a principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ for developing spiritual strength,” according to the Bible Dictionary.

The spirit desires to be fed just as the physical body does, and fasting can give the feasting perspective, Ladle said. “Where there are no opposites you don’t appreciate either end,” he said. “The fast makes the feast that much more meaningful and gives a chance to celebrate the spiritual part because the physical is set aside.”