21 December, 2020
Estimated Reading Time : 1 minute, 17 seconds
The Middle East stands out for its religious celebrations that are held year after year. During these festivities, special foods are often prepared to commemorate the occasion, and families gather around the table as part of the ritual.
Some traditional dishes are eaten repeatedly, however, others are only for the festive days. In the following lines, you will discover what is eaten during some of the most popular festivals in Arab countries.
- The Feast of the Lamb
The Feast of the Lamb lasts approximately 3 days and is held to commemorate a passage from the Bible and the Qur'an where Abraham’s loyalty to God was rewarded with the sacrifice of a lamb instead of his own son.
On the first day, the animal is sacrificed, and the other two days the meat is served as part of the meals. Similar to Holy Week, the date varies from year to year but always coincides with the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
- Ramadan
Another important celebration for Arabs is Ramadan, a time of fasting and reflection during which they purify their body and mind. During this period, during the daylight hours, meals are skipped, and food consumption begins at nine in the evening and continues until four in the morning.
The main dishes at these nighttime hours are Harira soup, which contains meats, vegetables, chickpeas, and many spices, as well as drinks like tea and coffee, and various desserts.
- Rosh Hashanah
Represents the Jewish New Year and is celebrated with a variety of symbolic foods such as honey, apples, raisins, fish, and pomegranate. These ingredients are associated with abundance and prosperity.
Friends and family also hold great importance in these celebrations. The food symbolizes the bond that unites them to thank and honor their religious beliefs.
