Religion and Food

Most religions have a set of guidelines for every aspect of our life, from our moral compasses to our daily prayers to what we eat.

Culinary cuisines vary from region to region but there are some foods that have become symbolic and important parts of observing the major world religions and cultural celebrations from fasting, New Years’ celebrations and the slaughtering of animals..

Many Hindus are practicing vegetarians, which means they do not consume meat. Cows are considered sacred in Hinduism, so they are not consumed for meat, but are used for dairy products like milk and yoghurt.

Like most religions, Islam lists a set guidelines that followers of Islam are set to follow, which includes dietary specifications. Halaal refers to food Muslims are allowed to eat, while haraam is indicative of the food they are not allowed to eat, like pork and alcohol.

When it comes to slaughtering animals, a prayer or testimonial needs to be said while facing Mecca (where possible) and the blood needs to be fully drained out of the animal. Muslims follow an annual month of fasting which is called Ramadan, which aims to teach Muslims the importance of moderation in all things, including food. During Ramadan, they are only allowed to eat before the sun rises and after the sun sets. Dates are eaten during Iftar, which is known as the daily breaking of fast.

Like Muslims, Catholics follow a time of fasting, Lent, which lasts from Ash Wednesday until Easter. They follow the fast to symbolise the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert, and the events leading up to his death and resurrection during Easter. Pretzels were originality created by monks as rewards for children to learn their prayers and were made to resemble how hands looked when they crossed their arms during prayer.

Although not a strict religious symbol, oranges and tangerines have become associated with Chinese New Year because of the way the words sound in Chinese. The word tangerine sounds similar to the word luck, while orange sounds similar to the word wealth. That’s why people display them in their homes during Chinese New Year in hopes that they will bring luck and wealth into the household. The colour orange also symbolises transformation in Confucianism, which is an ancient Chinese religion and philosophy.

In Judaism, the term kosher refers to foods that are permitted to be eaten by Jews and confirm to kashrut, which is the Jewish dietary law. Pork and shellfish are examples of food that they may not consume. Food needs to be prepared correctly in order for it to be considered kosher. Animals must be slaughtered in a certain way and the mixing of meat and milk products is forbidden. Apples are dipped in honey during Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year, and symbolise the hopes for a sweet new year.