Life is full of celebrations and moments to pause and spend time with others. It’s only natural that, in these celebrations, food is a central element. There’s a lot of things in this world we’re free to like as we wish, but one thing that unites us all is food. Ever since a young age, I can remember celebrating holidays with my family around a table full of food. As I’ve grown, I’ve discovered new holidays, many from other cultures, and the food that people all the around the world create to share with others and mark the special times in their lives.
The United States is a melting pot (or a salad bar, according to some) of cultures from all around the world, however our embrace of ethnic foods tends to take a backseat to the standard American diet that has evolved over time. I think part of what makes us American is the embrace of other people, cultures, ethnicities, and the traditions that they have that are not necessarily our own. I love seeing what other people do, and how they celebrate, and joining in those celebrations with them. I think it helps to pull us all together.
What follows isn’t an exhaustive list, but still a substantial one with many of the holidays I’ve been a part of, and enjoy celebrating, either with others, or by myself, and the foods that are unique to the cultures where these special days originate. Are all the recipes truly authentic? Not necessarily, but in this huge world, who is to say what is truly authentic and what’s a fake, anyway? To me, it’s the thought, the idea, and the validity of each and every person’s own life, views, and interpretation that matters, and our acceptance and celebration of that!
New Year’s Day
Though we live in a world with many calendars, and cultures that celebrate the “new year” at different times, January 1st of the Gregorian calendar is the most widely-celebrated New Year celebration. The new year being celebrated and welcomed often involves folklore and recipes meant to give good luck and fortune to those who eat them in the new year. While new year’s eve is a very festive party, new year’s day is often a much more laidback and calm affair.
So, if you will, allow me to indulge in a little folklore and superstition, and share some traditional culinary charms with you, as we explore traditional dishes like ham and beans – https://www.thespruceeats.com/southern-new-years-day-dinner-3057537
Superbowl
First Sunday in February
Valentines Day
February 14th
Mardi Gras
Forty-Seven Days before Easter
St. Patrick’s Day
March 17th
Passover
Fifteenth Day of Nisan
Easter
First Sunday after First Full Moon on or after March 21st
Ramadan
At the last night of the month of Sha’ban.
Independence Day
July 4th
Bastille Day
July 14th
Labor Day
First Monday in September
Rosh Hashanah
Start of first day of Tishrei
Yom Kippur
Tenth Day of Tishrei
Oktoberfest
Mid-to-Late September until First Sunday of October
Diwali
Amavaysa of Kartik month