Merry Christmas and a Tasty History on Holiday Traditions

Hey guys! I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas! Hope you all have a wonderful day with your family and friends! I am truly grateful for you all and so happy that I do what I love for a living.

Below is a fun article that I wrote for meal planning/recipe site Food on the Table that is perfect for today with some fun facts about popular holiday food. Hope you enjoy and maybe you can through out some interesting facts today at dinner! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! And Happy Kwanzaa!

Savory ham, spiced gingerbread, cool peppermint candy canes, and chestnuts roasting on a fire; so many holiday memories, songs, and traditions revolve around food. But how did these popular holiday foods become such an intricate part of the season’s festivities? To learn more, check out the tasty history behind these holiday treats.

Gingerbread is a popular Christmas treat which has been enjoyed for centuries around the world. Gingerbread cookies were originally only baked exclusively by professional bakers. These cookies were baked year round and shaped into popular shapes based on the season. Later, the general public was given permission to bake the popular cookies at Christmas and Easter, which may explain the Christmas connection.

Ham is the main attraction for many Christmas dinners. Serving pork at holiday celebrations dates back to Tudor England when a boar’s head was a common holiday centerpiece for the wealthy. Serving a Yule ham at holiday gatherings was later adapted for ease and accessibility.

Candy Canes originated, according to folklore, around 1670, when a German choirmaster needed an enticement to keep young singers quiet during services. Later, in 1847, an Ohio German immigrant used candy canes to decorate his Christmas tree. It wasn’t until the early 1900 that the popular colored stripes were added.

Latkes, or potato pancakes, are a popular food for Hanukkah. These traditional Hanukkah treats symbolize the miracle of Hanukkah because they are fried in oil. While traditional latkes are made from potatoes, onion and matzah, today there are many different recipes for latkes including latkes made from sweet potato, cauliflower, broccoli, and come served topped with sugar or cream.

Caribbean, African and South American foods are traditionally served at Kwanzaa. Since Kwanzaa celebrates African-American heritage, pride, community, and family; food served during this holiday honors this culture. Popular dishes include fried okra, fried chicken, black bean soup, baked ham and gumbo.