Regardless of one’s culture, food promotes togetherness, and that idea is emphasized during the holiday season.

By Kyle Arechiga & Julian Bayan

During the holiday season, the heart of the festivities lies in spending time and making memories with our families and loved ones. One special aspect of these gatherings is the shared joy of creating and indulging in delicious dishes. Granada Hills Charter (GHC), a diverse community reflecting over 140 cultures worldwide, takes pride in the rich tapestry of traditions woven through the celebration of food.

When families come together for a gathering, especially when food is involved, it often strengthens our bond and sense of community. Every family celebrates unique traditions. For many families, these traditions come from their cultures. Each culture has a distinct identity which is also expressed through food.

In Korean culture, many traditional foods are eaten at various holiday times. For example, tteokguk is a rice cake soup that is eaten at Korean New Year. Songpyeon is a sweet-filled rice cake at Chuseok, commonly known as Korean Thanksgiving when people give thanks to their ancestors.

“There is this drink we make called Sikhye which is made out of fermented barley and rice,” junior Annaliese Kim said.

Sikhye is a traditional sweet Korean rice beverage that is usually served as a dessert, especially during festive holidays such as the New Year and the Harvest Festival.

In all cultures, many of us have fond memories of someone baking or cooking some sweet goods for the family, whether that is a grandma, mom, dad, or cousin. Nostalgic memories in the kitchen are something that most cultures share.

Often, it seems, people’s bond with food is almost as strong as people’s bond with each other, especially if they are family members. This is especially true for Latino families who have a variety of cultural and traditional foods. The Latino culture is very diverse encompassing traditions from many different countries.

Mexican traditions include making tamales, for example, with recipes that are often passed down from many generations. Tamales require a lot of preparation including preparing the masa and carefully wrapping the fillings in corn husks. Tamales require precision and skill, often taught by the older generation.

“My mother has a book of recipes that’s passed down from generations. My mother and I make dishes together using these recipes.” junior Nicholas Bermudez said.

In the Muslim tradition, especially during Eid-al-Adha, many families consume traditional meals as well. Savory meals often include a variation of meats and rice. One meal includes kabseh, which is a dish made with meat, rice, carrots, and spices. Many families also eat biryani, another meat and rice dish that sometimes includes eggs and potatoes. Sweets are also an important tradition as with other cultures. For example, maamoul, a pastry filled with dates or nuts, or baklava.

Regardless of one’s culture, food promotes togetherness, and that idea is emphasized during the holiday season. Because it promotes togetherness, we feel a strong sense of unity and connection with our loved ones. It’s a time when the family gathers together and makes memories that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.