Thanks-filled Food Holidays

Food and foodways are used to express gratefulness in many cultures. To whom that gratefulness is directed, the types of foods used, and the rituals accompanying the food vary widely and richly. In the United States an official national holiday called Thanksgiving commemorates the survival of early British settlers in the 1600s and is celebrated with specific iconic foods and feasting in general. Other countries have both official and informal celebrations that include ritual meals that give thanks. These meals oftentimes remind us of our connections not only to other people but also to higher powers or forces larger than ourselves, such as nature, belief systems, nations.

CONNECT: Are there foods or food rituals you use to display gratitude?