All over the country, at this moment, people are sharing a meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, happy hour, coffee, and drinks. Through the act of eating together, they are building and reinforcing relationships, sharing ideas, celebrating, worshipping and gathering. Families tell each other about their day. Colleagues talk shop and hash out ideas. Couples share each other’s’ intimate secrets. Teams celebrate victories or cheer up each other over a loss.
No matter the reason, there is something communal about shared meals. Across cultures, religions, regions, and background, meals are a unifying factor. No matter the culture or ethnicity, people gather around food for reasons that have more to do with community rather than just the simply
consuming nourishment. It’s not just about eating; it’s about building the foundation for our families, communities and cultures. When people think about various cultures, food is such an important aspect of that.
Meals are a part of all stages of our lives. From the food we feed expectant mothers to the celebrations meals after the birth of a child. Food is involved in all manner of rituals from birth to coming of age; marriage to death. Even in mourning, we feast to console ourselves over our loss. Meals bring together people who seldom see each other. Think of all the relatives and friends that you only see
during the holidays. Thanksgiving is a time when people come from great distances to eat turkey together. Parties are an excuse to gather using food as a way to get people to attend. It’s a joyous time and occasion where our differences seem to be cast aside. We are jovial and carefree. It’s as if all differences are cast aside, even for just this short moment in time. Some of my happiest moments and cherished memories are around food and celebrations. I have fond remembrances of childhood birthday parties, Thanksgiving meals and Christmas dinners. As I recall these thoughts, it brings a smile to my face.