An ancient 'superfood' sent from heaven
The Massai people are skilled at extracting blood from the cow and are able to do so without killing the animal, which is highly valuable in their society. However, on special occasions like weddings, the cow is killed and passed around the men, who drink directly from the wound.
While some of their traditions cause controversy, one is actually quite heart-warming. There is a religious festival in the first week of April each year, and on one of the days every member of the community must eat meat. This means that the wealthier devotees must share their food with poorer members of the community who may not be able to access meat.
The Massai people are found in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They’re known for their colorful clothing and even more colorful traditions. One of their customs is the use of cow blood in their food and rituals.
The indigenous people of Australia have a wide range of different cultures and traditions. The Mardudjara people are a desert community who are among the most tradition-oriented Aboriginal groups in the country. They are known for the intensive coming-of-age ritual young boys have to go through to become men.
The Yezidi people are most commonly found in northern Iraq. They are persecuted for their religion, as it’s considered heretical to the Islamic norms of their homeland. Many believe them to be Satan-worshippers because they perform rituals for a devil-like figure, but their aim is to appease him rather than worship him.
Jainists cannot eat root vegetables. If a fruit or vegetable can be taken from the plant without killing the plant, then it’s safe to eat. But root vegetables are considered sources of life and are forbidden.
Jainism is one of the most ancient Indian religions. Non-violence is one of its central beliefs. Jainists go to great lengths to avoid harming or killing any living thing, including plants. They are known for following an incredibly strict form of vegetarianism.
The Yanomami tribe is an indigenous group that lives in the Amazon rainforest on the border between Brazil and Venezuela. They believe that death isn’t a natural occurrence. Instead, it’s seen as an attack on the body by evil spirits.
The porridge is then consumed by the female elders of the community. They believe that this practice will prolong the child’s life.
The Chaga tribe from Tanzania has been eating the placenta after birth long before it became a trend among wellness gurus and celebs! They save the placenta and dry it out so it can later be ground into a powder. Herbs are added and the mixture is turned into a kind of porridge.
Rastafarianism is a religion that developed in Jamaica in the 1930s. Rastafarians are known for giving religious significance to cannabis and dreadlocks, but they also have some interesting beliefs about food. They are supposed to eat “ital,” which means natural and clean.
They don’t consume alcohol or coffee, but will drink herbal teas. They usually stay away from meat, especially pork, but will eat fish. However, they don’t usually eat fish that are more than 12 inches (30 centimeters) long. Fruits and vegetables are their main food sources, but they cannot be touched by chemicals or pesticides.
A potlatch usually takes place after an inheritance or a marriage, so the person in question can solidify their new position in society. They give away their possessions to others or have them destroyed as part of the celebration. The hosts then provide an impressive feast that is enjoyed by all.
Sources: (Mashed) (Twisted Food) (Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine) (Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
See also: Everyday things you didn’t know were invented by indigenous peoples
Indigenous communities in Northern America are known to practice a gift-giving feast called a potlatch. It involves a member of the community offering up their possessions, along with an impressive feast, to show their status. Those who have plenty to give have greater status in the community.
This tradition is debated among various Buddhist communities, who each observe it in different ways. Many monks and nuns drink soup after midday to keep their energy levels up. Others consume highly-sweetened drinks or even energy drinks to give them a boost.
In general, Mormons are told to eat a healthy and wholesome diet. They aren’t supposed to use tobacco or drink alcohol unless it’s wine they made themselves. Consumption of wheat is encouraged and it's even referred to as the "staff of life" in their religious texts.
Human sacrifice was a common practice in ancient Aztec civilization. A captured enemy might be used as a sacrifice, or any innocent person could find themself the "chosen one."
For this reason, the body maintains significance for a long time after someone dies. The Torajan tradition is to keep the body in the family home and continue to treat it like a living person. The body remains dressed and posed, joining the family at every meal.
The Torajan people of Indonesia are famed for their funeral rituals. When a member of their community dies, they aren't considered to be dead right away. They believe that death is a gradual process that can take weeks, months, or even years.
In some cases, the body will stay living with the family for years until they are officially considered dead. As so much respect is given to the dead, the funeral is the most extravagant of all ceremonies in their culture. They last for several days and a water buffalo is killed and eaten as part of a large feast. The more affluent the deceased, the more water buffalo are killed.
When a Yanomami person dies, their body undergoes a special cremation ritual. The remaining ashes are then gathered and mixed with banana to create a kind of soup. The soup is then eaten by everyone in the community. It’s believed that consuming the body of the deceased keeps their spirit alive within the community, strengthening them all over generations.
One part of the ritual involves the boy being circumcised by an elder. He then eats part of the foreskin. It’s believed that by consuming part of your own body you become more powerful. This is carried out in a special private space away from their encampment. If any women try to approach, they are supposed to be killed.
The cow is a sacred animal in the Hindu religion, which is why they are seen roaming the streets freely in a predominantly Hindu nation like India. As such, cows cannot be killed and eaten, so beef is off the menu. However, dairy products are allowed as long as the cow isn't hurt. They are even considered to be spiritually pure.
Dietary guidelines for Hindus follow the belief that food can hinder spiritual development. As they believe in reincarnation, they are naturally wary of killing any living things and tend to follow a mostly vegetarian diet.
There are many religious texts and different approaches to Hinduism, so not all Hindus follow the same rules. Some believe that foods that stimulate the senses, like garlic and onions, interfere with spiritual development. Others avoid eating mushrooms as they are considered a tamasic food, and therefore evoke negative emotions like anger and greed.
The Orang Asli are the indigenous tribal people of Malaysia. Like Hindus, they believe that all living creatures have spirits. They believe that your spirit must be strong enough to compete with the spirit of the animal you are eating.
Orang Asli children are only allowed to eat small animals like small fish, birds, and toads. Their spirits are considered strong when they turn 20, and they are then allowed to eat larger animals like deer.
A priest would cut out the beating heart of their sacrifice and offer it to the gods. The rest of the body wasn't wasted though! It was then butchered and shared out to feed the community.
Fascinating food traditions from religions around the world
Get ready for an education!
FOOD Religious foods
It is estimated that there are more than 4,000 different religions in the world. Each is connected to a unique community and culture, often developed over centuries of human history. Many of the major world religions come with their own dietary regulations, such as the kosher diet in Judaism and the halal diet in Islam. These unique dietary needs are commonplace and widely accepted. However, when you scratch the surface you'll uncover fascinating insights into the core beliefs of these religions, and the old adage "you are what you eat" takes on a new spiritual significance.
Click through this gallery to learn about some of the most interesting food traditions from a range of religions around the world.