The holiday season is anchored with traditions, many of which are fed from the dinner table. Whether it’s the time and effort put into a traditional dish or the simple act of sitting down together as a family, food is part of the recipe that binds holiday celebrations. And it’s not just that way in the United States.
Here, we share some stories and recipes that mark the season the globe over.
Shiloh, Matthew, Thomas, Gladys, Terry and Aiyana Loher, from left.Growing up in the Andes Mountains, tamales meant one thing to Gladys Pineda-Loher: Time to celebrate.
“It’s not something you eat every day because of the amount of work. It’s something that really is traditional for Christmas or New Year’s parties,” says the Colombian native, who now serves as director of international community outreach for Chattanooga State.
It’s something she’s tried to keep alive for her four young children, including them in the weekend-long process. As they help chop the vegetables and clean the banana leaves, Loher will interrupt the festive Colombian Christmas tunes to share stories from a time when it was her abuela overseeing the ritualistic preparation.