Contributed by Jennifer Peachey

Do visions of sugar plums dance in your head as soon as the snow starts to fall? Does the Christmas season bring on visions of a roasted turkey, potatoes and gravy, carrots and broccoli? Whether you’re planning to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule or just your family and the human spirit, there will probably be food involved.

Over the centuries certain foods have come to be symbols in many ritual celebrations. Gingerbread cookies for example are part of the Scandinavian St. Lucia Day festivities. On December 13th people at work, school and home will stop to have Luciapepparkakor (gingerbread cookies). In contrast, that same day marks the beginning of Ramanda, where Moslem people will fast from sunrise to sunset. After a month on this fast they will celebrate with three days of feasting!

In Mexico, December 12th is the celebration of The Virgin of Guadalupe, the mother of health. Pińatas, filled with sweets, fruit and nuts will be broken to celebrate the triumph of good over evil – the rewards for the good showered down on them. Between December 10th and 17th the Jewish people will celebrate Hanukkah, the festival of lights that commemorates the miracle of the oil in the synagogue lasting eight days instead of one. Foods fried in oil, such as the Latkes below, are made to remind the people of this.

December 21st marks the Pagan winter solstice festival of Yule. The Yule log, an actual log burned to honor the sun, originated from this festival and has inspired Yule Log cakes and recipes at this time of year. Christmas follows close behind with the traditional turkey having its roots in Roman times when a goose was part of the feast. Spices from the east, honoring the Christ child’s birthplace, made their way into Christmas foods such as traditional ginger cookies.

Another big December celebration is Kwanzaa on the 26th. This is an African-American festival of community and involves eating fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the ritual. Although I was unable to find details, there is also a festival in China called Tsoa Chun, the festival of the men’s kitchen God. I am assuming that food might play a role in this celebration as well. Food, which nurtures us physically often becomes a symbol for our emotional/spiritual well being and takes its honoured place in celebrations here and all over the world!

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