An ancient 'superfood' sent from heaven
In just about any religion, food is one of the most important parts of ceremonies and traditions. From Christianity to Judaism, Islam to Taoism, all these religious groups have foods that symbolize an aspect of their faith.
Many such foods are also closely associated with a particular date or season, such as Easter or Rosh Hashanah. And as with all religious traditions, some foods have passed into widespread secular use, so you'll definitely recognize some of them outside a religious context.
Curious? Click on to discover foods with religious meanings behind them.
A hot cross bun is a spiced sweet bun usually made with fruit and marked with a cross on the top. Originating in the UK, it's been traditionally eaten on Good Friday to break the fast.
Commonly used for cooking and traditional medicine, this Indian butter is also a sacred food in Hinduism. It's burnt in religious rituals and offered to gods.
A Middle Eastern classic, baklava is also popular in Greece. There, it's supposed to be made with 33 dough layers, referring to the years of Christ's life.
Also known as Saint Agatha's Breasts, this Sicilian pastry from Catania is made during the Festival of Saint Agatha. The pastry is supposed to represent the breasts of Saint Agatha. She was martyred by having her breasts cut off when refusing to surrender her virginity to pagans.
In Southern France in around 610 CE, monks would bake thin strips of dough into the shape of a child's arms folded in prayer.
Eaten on Hannukah, sufganiyot is a fried pastry filled with sweet jelly. It symbolizes the miracle associated with the Temple oil.
Fanesca is a soup eaten during Holy Week in Ecuador. It contains 12 types of beans, each representing the Apostles, as well as salted cod, representing Jesus Christ.
Eaten on Rosh Hashanah (i.e. Jewish New Year), it reminds Jews of the manna, an edible substance provided by God when the Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years.
Modak is an Indian sweet dumpling with a fresh coconut filling. It's made specially during Ganesh Chaturthi, a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of the god Ganesha.
Bread, especially unleavened bread, is one of the two elements of the Christian Eucharist. The bread represents the body of Christ.
The second element of the Christian Eucharist is sacramental wine. It represents Christ's blood and is used as a way to remember the sacrifices he made.
Challah is a braided sweet bread, eaten on ceremonial occasions such as Shabbat and other major Jewish holidays. It also commemorates the manna.
Originating in Iran, halva is a confectionery paste made from flour, butter, liquid oil, saffron, rosewater, milk, cocoa powder, and sugar. Popular across the Middle East, on the 7th and 40th days and first anniversary following the death of a Muslim, it's offered to visitors by relatives of the deceased.
In the UK and the Commonwealth, pancakes are associated with Shrove Tuesday, also known as "Pancake Day." Historically, this is when perishable ingredients had to be used up before the fasting period of Lent.
In the Shinto religion, tofu is the favorite food of foxes, which are associated with the Japanese deity Inari. Tofu is therefore offered at shrines.
Eaten on Hannukah, latkes are potato pancakes, which commemorate the oil keeping the flame in the Temple lit for eight days.
One of the oldest Easter traditions around, Easter eggs originated from Central and Eastern Europe. They symbolize the resurrection of Jesus and a new life.
Galette des rois is a puff pastry pie filled with frangipane. Eaten at Epiphany, it originated in France, but it's also consumed in other countries as King's Cake. A small charm of baby Jesus is usually baked into it.
In the Bible, figs are used prominently as symbols. In the New Testament, they're used in the parable of the budding fig tree and the parable of the barren fig tree.
In Christianity, the lamb represents Christ, as both suffering and triumphant. It also symbolizes sweetness and forgiveness.
Representing the mortar made by the Jews in Egyptian slavery, charoset is a sweet paste eaten at Passover Seder. It's made from apples, pears, raisins, figs, orange juice, red wine, pine nuts, and cinnamon.
Also known as lussekatter, these saffron buns with raisins are associated with Saint Lucy's Day celebrations in Sweden and Norway. The day is celebrated on December 13.
In Islam, dates are traditionally eaten at the Iftar, the meal that breaks the Ramadan fast. It represents the tradition of prophet Muhammad breaking his fast by eating three dates.
Typically served on Chinese New Year's Eve, noodles symbolize longevity in Taoism.
Religieuse is a type of éclair common in France. It's made to resemble a nun, hence its name, which means religious.
Maror refers to the bitter herb eaten at Passover Seder. It's meant to remind the Jews of the bitterness of slavery.
Paska is a Ukrainian sweet bread, which represents the resurrection of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It's often blessed with other foods and added to a traditional Easter basket called the koshyk.
Because dumplings have a similar shape as money-related tools, such as the Chinese tael, it symbolizes wealth in Taoism. They're eaten at midnight during Chinese New Year celebrations.
In the UK, some Easter biscuits are often flavored with cassia oil, as a symbol of the perfumes used in preparing Christ's body for burial.
Heavenly delights: foods with religious meanings
These foods are both holy and delicious!
FOOD Religions
In just about any religion, food is one of the most important parts of ceremonies and traditions. From Christianity to Judaism, Islam to Taoism, all these religious groups have foods that symbolize an aspect of their faith.
Many such foods are also closely associated with a particular date or season, such as Easter or Rosh Hashanah. And as with all religious traditions, some foods have passed into widespread secular use, so you'll definitely recognize some of them outside a religious context.
Curious? Click on to discover foods with religious meanings behind them.