Page 29 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 11_2023

Festive Traditions

AROUND THE WORLD:

CELEBRATING THE SEASON

IN GLOBAL STYLE Panettone

Panettone: A Milanese Love TRADITIONS: A MOSAIC OF
As Story in Every Bite CELEBRATIONS
the year hurtles Originating in the 1400s, panettone While the above traditions
is a Milanese bread enriched with
showcase the diversity of Christmas
towards its close, the a heartwarming tale. Concocted celebrations, the holiday season's
global tapestry extends far beyond
by a duke's falconer and a local
impending Christmas season baker, this sweet bread was born these culinary delights. Let's take a
prompts us to prepare for the joyous from their love for the baker's whirlwind tour of festive traditions
daughter, Adalgisa. Dried fruit
around the world.
festivities that bring families together, and citron were added to
allowing us to unwind, celebrate successes, the dough to give it a festive • Hanukkah: Also known as
touch. The popularity of
the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah
panettone saved the bakery
and recharge for the new challenges and paved the way for the commemorates the miracle of a small
amount of oil lasting eight days. Families
awaiting us. In the spirit of the season, falconer and Adalgisa to marry, light the menorah, exchange gifts, and
creating a Christmas tradition
here is a look at global holiday feasts that continues to delight palates enjoy foods fried in oil, such as latkes
and sufganiyot.
and traditions, each adding today. • Las Posadas in Mexico: A nine-day
its unique flavour to the Plum Christmas Pudding: celebration leading up to Christmas, Las
festivities. Stirring Up Symbolism Posadas re-enacts Mary and Joseph's
Originating from a Roman Catholic search for shelter. Communities come
decree, the 13-ingredient Christmas together for processions, breaking
Turkey: A Feast Fit for a pudding symbolises Christ and the piñatas, and sharing traditional foods
Global Celebration twelve apostles. Families would gather like tamales.
Come November and December, to make the pudding, stirring the batter • Hogmanay in Scotland: The Scottish
turkeys take centre stage on festive from east to west to commemorate New Year celebration, Hogmanay, is
tables around the world. While roast the Magi's journey. While the original marked by lively street parties, the
goose was once the star, the practicality recipe included raisins, currants, beef singing of "Auld Lang Syne," and the
of turkeys—cheap to raise and large suet, citrus zest, almonds, and spices, custom of "first-footing," where the first
enough to feed extended families— the introduction of plums led to the person to enter a home after midnight
ushered in a new tradition. The turkey's creation of the beloved Christmas brings symbolic gifts for good luck.
affordability and ample servings soon pudding that graces tables worldwide.
made it the go-to choice for festive • Saint Nicholas Day in
feasts, bringing families together in a the Netherlands: On Christmas ham
delicious celebration. Stollen: From Humble December 5th,
Beginnings to Christmas
Christmas Ham: A Culinary Indulgence children eagerly
anticipate the
Journey Through Time Originally a bland Advent meal in arrival of
In Tudor England, a boar's head fifteenth-century monasteries, stollen Sinterklaas,
reigned supreme as the Christmas underwent a transformation when who leaves
centrepiece, harkening back to Viking Saxon nobility sought the Pope's gifts in their
traditions of offering a boar as a permission to include butter in the shoes.
sacrifice to Freyr, the Norse god of recipe. Granted in 1491, this dried fruit- Parades,
harvest and fertility. However, as times and marzipan-flavoured bread became traditional
changed, the Christmas ham became a luxurious Christmas treat, symbolising sweets,
a more accessible alternative for the swaddled Baby Jesus. and festive
families. The yule ham, with its roots decorations
in Viking practices, has since become An Unexpected Japanese add to the
a quintessential holiday dish enjoyed Tradition: KFC's Christmas excitement.
across the globe. Feast
In Japan, a unique Christmas tradition • Kwanzaa
involves 3.6 million families indulging in the United
in a KFC Christmas dinner on Christmas
Turkey Eve. The phenomenon began in the early States: Celebrated
by African-American
seventies when KFC Japan cleverly communities, Kwanzaa
marketed a holiday bucket with the spans seven days, each dedicated to a
tagline "here is something that different principle, such as unity, self-
you should do on Christmas." determination, and creativity. Families
Today, KFC franchises in light candles on the kinara, exchange
Japan rub their hands handmade gifts, and share a feast.
together in glee as
families embrace this These diverse traditions showcase
unconventional yet the beauty of global celebrations,
delightful tradition. each imbued with its unique customs,
Global Festive symbols, and sense of community.
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