With Easter just passing, Ramadan wrapping up and Orthodox Easter fast approaching, I thought it would be a poignant time to talk about the relationship between religion and food. This is a multifaceted, complex but unequivocally important subject that regardless of which religion, stands true for most.
Food is symbolic of many things across all kinds of religions. In the way that many people practice, food tends to be of some kind of tradition like fish on Fridays during Lent or breaking fast with dates during Ramadan but the root of that tradition tends to represent something greater- a gift, a sacrifice, an offering or an act of love.
Food is also depicted as sacred in many religions and representative of something greater than just simply food. In Christianity, when you take communion, it represents the presence of God within you, and in the Bible, the Last Supper depicts Jesus sharing his last meal with those closest to him, bringing people together and creating a sense of community based on common ideologies and beliefs- regardless of its ending. Similarly, the Koran describes food as “a blessing to be enjoyed and shared” (24:61). In Judaism, Challah bread represents many different things based on its size, shape and ingredients depending on the tradition being observed. Challah with 12 knots represents the twelve tribes of Israel, a round Challah made for Rosh Hashana is said to represent continuity and sweet Challah with honey or raisins are made to bring joy and happiness to those who eat it.
As you can see, religious traditions are steeped in symbolism… and food. They also tend to involve a lack thereof at times and by this, I refer to fasting. Fasting is observed in all Abrahamic religions; Yom Kippur in Judaism, Lent in Christianity and Ramadan in Islam. There are caveats to each religion about the specific teachings and learnings however fasting is usually, in some way, a demonstration of devotion and faith because of the sacrifice you are making for your beliefs. Fasting is often a time of humility and an opportunity to reflect and be grateful for the blessings you identify in your life. Of course, this is not limited to periods of fasting and such an opportunity is often taken before each meal in the form of a prayer or blessing of sorts.
Interestingly, I’ve noticed that some religious traditions, although referred to through religious text, are reflective of some kind of health practice. However, here I must be clear that fasting in different religions and denominations can look vastly different. For example Christians observing Lent will not eat fish on Fridays for the 48 days leading up to Easter, whereas Muslims observing Ramadan abstain from all food and drink from dawn until dusk for the duration of the lunar month. This is not to compare one’s faith or commitment however each would have significantly different effects on the body. The former may be seen to reflect health advice to reduce red meat intake for cardiovascular health and the latter may be more reflective of intermittent fasting practices.
As one might expect, to break fast there is usually the tradition of feasting (and rightly so in my opinion). Eid is the Islamic feasting with family and friends to break the fast of Ramadan, a shared meal is typical after the Passion service on Good Friday for Christians and it is tradition to break fast with others after Jewish Ta’anit or fasting days for Yom Kippur and Tisha B’av.
Though feasting is not reserved for breaking fast. It is also a way to pay homage and give devotion to gods, saints, deities and spiritual events. It is a way to celebrate sacraments and life milestones.
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, a religious event described in the bible, and is a time spent feasting with family and close friends after mass symbolising a happy and joyous time. Passover celebrates the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt and usually involves the Seder where a meal is shared amongst family in addition to prayer. Weddings are the coming together of two people, families and communities and are celebrated through a religious ritual or service, feasting and dancing. Births and baptisms celebrate new life and a welcoming into community with prayers to bless the babe and promises to guide them morally through life according to the beliefs of the family and community which is later celebrated with a feast (or party). Finally, deaths and funerals are a celebration of a life complete and while it is an opportunity to pray for a soul and grieve it is also an opportunity to share food, drink and memories of the person departed.
As outlined, food is at the crux of many religious celebrations regardless of which religion or denomination you subscribe to. Fasting and feasting during religious celebrations and events is a time to reflect and have gratitude for the good things, the hard lessons and the loved ones we have in our lives. Not only does it have connotations to scripture and tradition but it brings family and community together, all of which contribute to a larger part of a person’s purpose and sense of identity in the world. So… how does this relate to the plight of dysphagia?
When a person cannot participate in these feasts and sharing of plates with members of the community it can leave them feeling left out, isolated and possibly looking at themselves in a different way because they can no longer religiously practice and participate in the way they’ve always known. This is a particularly important space to be mindful, not of what foods need to be removed but of how they can be included differently so that everyone can still “have a seat at the table,” so to speak. How can we cook fish differently on Good Friday? What are some alternative ways to prepare lamb during Eid? How can we modify Matzo Ball Soup for Passover? There is a whole world (or more) to discover when it comes to modifying traditional foods and practices however it requires some time, thought and, you guessed it, a little bit of creativity in the kitchen. Your next big celebration could be the perfect opportunity to try something new for those who need it. You might be surprised to find you end up with a longer table rather than a higher fence ✨🥰
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