By Meghna Sundar, Staff Writer
Food is one of the most universal ways for different cultures to bond and celebrate their uniqueness. During the holiday season especially, the kitchen becomes a place where cultures and family all mix together. Across campus, Mariners shared the dishes that they prepare with their families around the holidays. These cultural foods are not only delicious, but also carry cultural significance throughout many generations.
In many Mexican and Hispanic families, Christmas and seasonal cooking centers around traditions that trace back to Indigenous civilizations. For example, tamales were first made by the Aztecs and Maya for festivals and community gatherings, and they are now a staple for the holidays in many households. Sophomore Rose Cardenas-Lawrence joked, “I make tamales with my family every year, but I end up taking most of the work.”
Junior Rychelle Aguilar, whose family comes from Guatemala, added, “Around the holidays my family and I eat ponche navideño, buñuelos, and rellenitos de plátano,” which are all classic dishes that date also back centuries.
Indian holiday dishes can also be affiliated with their own cultural festivals and traditions. For example, barfi has been part of celebrations such as Diwali (festival of lights), symbolizing good fortune and family unity. Reva Kalra shared that her family prepares barfi each year, while junior Shubh Sharma makes beet curry flavored with coconut and curry leaves.
Many other cultures exist with holiday tables full of diverse flavors. For example, math teacher Thomas Trang prepares Vietnamese pho for his family during the holidays. African American and Ghanaian traditions also feature dishes that combine culture with celebration. Sophomore Qiana Walker said, “In my family, we make sweet potato pie and jollof rice with fried plantains.”
Regardless of culture or tradition, Christmas and the holidays are a way for people to come together as a community and celebrate through various different cuisines. From rolling tamales to shaping barfi and stirring pots of phos, these traditional foods showcase the importance of heritage and continue to be a staple in many families.
Happy holidays!
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