Festivals and Foods Across Cultures

Diwali is celebrated by many Hindu, Sikh, and Jain families. What is one traditional food eaten during Diwali and what does it represent?

→ Families often make and share mithai, which are sweet treats like ladoo and barfi. Sweets represent happiness and the victory of light over darkness. · Sharing sweets with neighbors is a way to spread joy during Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

During the Chinese Lunar New Year, families eat long noodles at dinner. Why do they keep the noodles long and not cut them?

→ Long noodles stand for a long life. Cutting them would be bad luck, so families slurp the whole noodle without breaking it. · Foods at Lunar New Year are chosen because their shape or name sounds like something good, like luck or money.

At a Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration, families place foods on an ofrenda. What is an ofrenda and why is food put there?

→ An ofrenda is an altar set up at home to honor family members who have died. Families place the favorite foods of their loved ones on it so their spirits feel welcomed. · Día de los Muertos is a loving celebration, not a scary one. It helps families remember people they miss.

Jewish families celebrate Passover with a special meal called a Seder. One food on the Seder plate is bitter herbs. Why are bitter herbs eaten?

→ The bitter herbs taste sharp and unpleasant on purpose. They remind families of the hardships that Jewish people faced long ago when they were enslaved in Egypt. · Every food on the Seder plate tells part of a story, making the meal like an edible history lesson.

In the United States, many families eat turkey and cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving. Is Thanksgiving food the same in every American home?

→ No. Many families add dishes from their own culture. A Vietnamese-American family might also serve pho, and a Mexican-American family might include tamales alongside the turkey. · Thanksgiving shows how American culture is a mix of many different food traditions all at once.

During the Ethiopian holiday Timkat, injera bread is served. What is injera and why is it special?

→ Injera is a large, flat, spongy bread made from a grain called teff. It is used as both a plate and a utensil. People tear pieces and scoop up stews together, which shows sharing and togetherness. · Eating from the same injera is a sign of friendship and trust in Ethiopian culture.