The culture behind food

        

Food has been a part of human civilization for centuries.  Like humans, food has a cultural meaning behind it.  Something that brings people together or tell a story about the past.  We still see some societies that eat these cultural foods, bringing the past to the present.

         Sometimes we just don't know the deeper meaning of the food we eat or the significance of it during a special day.  Sometimes we become judgmental of societies because of the food they choose to eat.  Culturally speaking many of the times those delicacies are passed down from generation to generation. Many of those foods are still being eaten because it's their identity and culture. As Jean Anthelme Brillat said in 1825, “Tell me what you eat, and I’ll tell you who you are.” Food has had a big connection to societies and it gives us an insight of their beliefs and values.  The Better Health Channel has an explanation of the different religions and their beliefs on food.  Food gives an insight of a culture and society.  
        Around the globe there are many types of food that are eaten on special days.  In the United States turkeys have always been a symbol of Thanksgiving thus always been eaten during Thanksgiving.  In Allison Klein's article on How Thanksgiving Works, she talks about the turkey as a symbolism of "traditional agriculture life".  The first ever pilgrims ate a feast which consisted of cranberries, turkey, corn, stuffing, etc... Even today we still see families eating the same meal during Thanksgiving.  Something so little as a piece of turkey meat tells a big story in our history and our identity of where we're from.  
            Food tells a story about societies past, it brings people together in the food they eat.  In order to understand a person’s culture, it’s important to try their food.  That’s one step in getting to know them.
        Sometimes cultural foods are controversial in the eyes of outsiders.  Some cultures eat strange foods, but as outsiders we tend to think of it as weird, gross or not delectable.   We have to put into consideration and be open minded that what we think as gross, might be tasty to them.  Like how we are eating turkeys on Thanksgiving, individuals around the world might think we are odd and weird eating turkey.  If they know the culture behind why we eat it, they will be more understanding and open about it.