Celebration without food is like a well without water. (you can quote me on that) My Puertorican family's parties and gatherings would be quite dull, if not nonexistent without plates of arroz con gandules, a variety of pork parts, and tostones (fried plantains) or some other pieces of fried deliciousness. Birthday parties were no exception. The Hernandez household has had it's fair share of shin digs, and the celebration of my 26th birthday this past weekend was no exception. It was a good time.
My friend Suzy gave me the idea of finding out about birthday celebrations and food around the world. Most people automatically think of a fancy birthday cake as traditional fare, but that has only been instilled into US culture the past 100 years. Cakes were actually traditional in Roman times, especially significant for the 50th birthday. Birthday food fare differ vastly from country to country, yet the basis is the same: delightful dishes that not only taste good, but symbolize celebration, togetherness and blessings to come. In some cultures, a birthday food is an important cultural symbol recognized by the entire community. Birthdays of powerful and wealthy individuals have been celebrated for thousands of years. The Bible's book of Genesis (ch. 40:20) indicates that Egyptian pharaohs would organize feasts around their birthdays. After the1400s, birthdays would be celebrated by others who had politcal power and wealth. In the United States, post civil war citizens copied the traditions of their wealthy counterparts in celebrating their birthday. Although there are a number of cultures in which birthdays are not observed, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, usually a birthday is regarded as a rite of passage marking an individual's progress through the life cycle. Here are some ways my friends celebrate getting older:
" In Guangodong province, China, where I was born, right after the first month of my birth, there was a huge banquet for all the friends and relatives with 60 people attending and hard- boiled eggs painted red, symbolizing new birth were given out to everyone. After this major celebration, all the remaining birthdays were celebrated with just a nice family dinner and long noodles, symbolizing longevity, were eaten on each birthday. However, when one reaches the age of 61, 71, 81, 91 etc., each of these 10 year milestones will be celebrated with banquets again with friends and relatives (usually 100 or more guests). These banquets are usually very elaborate consisting of more than 11 courses. Again long noodles symbolizing longevity are eaten. At these banquets, the birthday person gives out red envelopes with money to each of his or her guest at the banquet. Culturally, the above summarizes what people living in China do for birthdays and food." -Merlin Leong, China
" For us a big birthday celebration you would always make either tamales veracruzanos ( with the banana leaves instead of corn husk) or pozole!...very Mexican dishes, affordable and feeds many!... hmmm I miss those days!! However, my mami would always wake me up with mananitas and pancakes around 4am or so..." - Alicia Euyoque Herold, Mexico
"Almond cake! Since I was a kids most of the times had one...now I like carrot too....I think it's a matter of what spices and flavor combination (you) can do in your brain....(what's my)favorite icing?....cream cheese!"
-Jose Enrique Cruz, Puerto Rico
Since moving to Saint Louis in 1999, our family has lovingly woven other traditional Latin American cultures into our own island roots, readily adopting cuisine into our frequent gatherings. Birthday cake has of late been ordered from Mexican Bakeries specializing in a Pastel Tres Leches or "three milk cake". It consists of a sponge or almond cake soaked in three types of milk- evaporated, condensed, and heavy cream then topped with fruit and whipped cream- a real decadence! You can make it yourself, but if your looking for a local bakery that makes it try Diana's Bakery, off of the historic Cherokee street. Also featured at my birthday dinner included other traditional Latin American dishes, including two Peruvian staples; Shrimp Ceviche and Papa a la huancaina. Homemade salsa verde complimented the pork carnitas, and Columbian arepas, whom my friend Benjamin described as a cross between "a Latino biscuit and a hot pocket..." Well said Ben, well said.
For more information on how different places around the world celebrate birthdays, try:
Encyclopedia of Food and Culture, "Birthday Foods"
My friend Suzy gave me the idea of finding out about birthday celebrations and food around the world. Most people automatically think of a fancy birthday cake as traditional fare, but that has only been instilled into US culture the past 100 years. Cakes were actually traditional in Roman times, especially significant for the 50th birthday. Birthday food fare differ vastly from country to country, yet the basis is the same: delightful dishes that not only taste good, but symbolize celebration, togetherness and blessings to come. In some cultures, a birthday food is an important cultural symbol recognized by the entire community. Birthdays of powerful and wealthy individuals have been celebrated for thousands of years. The Bible's book of Genesis (ch. 40:20) indicates that Egyptian pharaohs would organize feasts around their birthdays. After the1400s, birthdays would be celebrated by others who had politcal power and wealth. In the United States, post civil war citizens copied the traditions of their wealthy counterparts in celebrating their birthday. Although there are a number of cultures in which birthdays are not observed, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, usually a birthday is regarded as a rite of passage marking an individual's progress through the life cycle. Here are some ways my friends celebrate getting older:
" In Guangodong province, China, where I was born, right after the first month of my birth, there was a huge banquet for all the friends and relatives with 60 people attending and hard- boiled eggs painted red, symbolizing new birth were given out to everyone. After this major celebration, all the remaining birthdays were celebrated with just a nice family dinner and long noodles, symbolizing longevity, were eaten on each birthday. However, when one reaches the age of 61, 71, 81, 91 etc., each of these 10 year milestones will be celebrated with banquets again with friends and relatives (usually 100 or more guests). These banquets are usually very elaborate consisting of more than 11 courses. Again long noodles symbolizing longevity are eaten. At these banquets, the birthday person gives out red envelopes with money to each of his or her guest at the banquet. Culturally, the above summarizes what people living in China do for birthdays and food." -Merlin Leong, China
" For us a big birthday celebration you would always make either tamales veracruzanos ( with the banana leaves instead of corn husk) or pozole!...very Mexican dishes, affordable and feeds many!... hmmm I miss those days!! However, my mami would always wake me up with mananitas and pancakes around 4am or so..." - Alicia Euyoque Herold, Mexico
"Almond cake! Since I was a kids most of the times had one...now I like carrot too....I think it's a matter of what spices and flavor combination (you) can do in your brain....(what's my)favorite icing?....cream cheese!"
-Jose Enrique Cruz, Puerto Rico
Since moving to Saint Louis in 1999, our family has lovingly woven other traditional Latin American cultures into our own island roots, readily adopting cuisine into our frequent gatherings. Birthday cake has of late been ordered from Mexican Bakeries specializing in a Pastel Tres Leches or "three milk cake". It consists of a sponge or almond cake soaked in three types of milk- evaporated, condensed, and heavy cream then topped with fruit and whipped cream- a real decadence! You can make it yourself, but if your looking for a local bakery that makes it try Diana's Bakery, off of the historic Cherokee street. Also featured at my birthday dinner included other traditional Latin American dishes, including two Peruvian staples; Shrimp Ceviche and Papa a la huancaina. Homemade salsa verde complimented the pork carnitas, and Columbian arepas, whom my friend Benjamin described as a cross between "a Latino biscuit and a hot pocket..." Well said Ben, well said.
For more information on how different places around the world celebrate birthdays, try:
Encyclopedia of Food and Culture, "Birthday Foods"
Thank you! This really helped me with my school work and sounds really yummy!
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