FOOD BUZZ
Poland
traditions as we would
like to believe and much
has diverged over the
years, but Christmas
dinner is pretty similar in
both the U.S. and the
British Isles. Brits have a big
lunch on Christmas Day
where everyone is given
a ‘cracker’, a brightly
colored tube with a hat,
small toys and a riddle, all
key to the fun of the meal.
The foods of Christmas are
turkey with the trimmings,
veggies and sauces with
fruit pudding for dessert.
Italians deviate their
celebration of Christmas
from other Europeans
by spreading out the
fun for three weeks and
their gifts come from a
sweet witch who rides a
broomstick. But like the
Germans, Italians have
a version of fruitcake
called Panettone and
Christmas Eve is a meatless
day followed by a bit of
overdoing on Christmas
Day. Italian dinners vary
by region, but pasta is
key, including gnocchi (a
potato dumpling served
with tomato sauce) that
are easy to cook and
delicious. Lower Italy
celebrates with the Feast
of the Seven Fishes and
the Northern Italians eat
pork for Christmas.
Eastern Europe
Each country’s Christmas
traditions vary slightly, and
some Orthodox religions
celebrate Christmas on
January 6, but all accept
that cleaning is key to
celebrating and food is
secondary.
Foods such as potatoes,
breads, stuffed cabbage,
pierogi, beetroot soup
and carp, as is Bigos
(cabbage, bacon and
dried plums) are served
(or some variation of these
foods), but no one can
eat until the first star is seen
in the sky on Christmas
Eve and meat is not eaten
from Christmas Eve until
December 26. There are
usually 12 dishes served
(for the 12 months) and
you must always leave an
empty spot at the table
for the unexpected guest
who may show up, as no
one should be alone or
hungry.
What about Mexico?
Mexico, like Italy (and
Spain), celebrates
Christmas December 12
to January 6, and children
perform the Posada or the
procession of Mary and
Joseph looking for lodging
until Christmas Eve.
Christmas dinner is eaten
on Christmas Eve and for
some, the fare may be
very different to American
fare, but the colors make
it worth trying at least
once. Ensalada de Noche
Buena is a beet and
lettuce salad with other
fresh ingredients such as
apples, carrots, oranges or
nuts added for garnish. It’s
colorful and important as
part of the meal. Tamales
are cornmeal dumplings
wrapped in cornhusks
and steamed; a delicious
food, but long-cooking
and time-consuming
to make, so they are a
delicacy served on special
occasions, but turkey is
served with mole ( MO-leh:
a sauce made of ground
chiles and spices, very rich
and tasty) as is hominy
soup (Pozole) and cookies
(bunuelos).
We could go on
indefinitely about what all
the different cultures do
to welcome the holidays
and what they eat, but
we hope that you’ll find
something tied to your
history and your people
and bring it forward.
Teach your children,
nieces and nephews
about where they come
from, what your culture
is about and why you do
what you do. Make a craft
project or cooking date to
try a new food ahead of
the holidays and make this
a holiday of memories and
time spent connecting
rather than a holiday of
money and stuff.
Have a Happy Christmas,
Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and
a Happy and Healthy
2018.
Mexico
(918) 456-1500
kitchen hours
Tue - Sat, 4pm - 9pm
bar hours
Tue - Sat, 4pm - Last Call
CLoSed Sun & mon
505 n Muskogee ave, tahlequah, ok 74464
www.thecurrentbuzz.net
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