In today’s society we buy our food at the market and eat and that’s it! There is no more meaning, it is simple and practical but it would not be different if there were!
In this post you will know some civilizations that value your food.
olive oil
Spain, Greece and part of Italy chose pure olive oil to symbolize abundance. Widely used in Mediterranean cuisine, it is good for blood circulation and digestion and guarantees the most desired type of abundance: having a long and healthy life.
In the past, it was customary in these countries to start the day with a glass of extra virgin olive oil, the purest, to guarantee perfect health. Seventeen centuries before Christ, the coast of Spain was already full of olive trees. To this day, this country is one of the world’s largest producers of olives, the fruit that gives rise to olive oil.
Complete substance, it was revered in antiquity as a multiple and miraculous liquid. Its medicinal properties highlighted it as a remedy for wounds of warriors and the sick (many later discovered that olives have the same basic element as aspirin – hence their analgesic effect). Combustible, it fed lamps and was part of religious rituals, symbolizing the preservation of divine gifts.
BREAD
For ever and for all peoples, bread is revered as an essential food, which sustains and nourishes, away from scarcity and hunger.
Those who most praise him are the Italians, who have 250 cataloged variations of the basic mixture of wheat flour, water and salt. In Italy, the act of sharing bread attracts prosperity and multiplies abundance, so it is not lacking at the table at every meal.
The origin of the bread is controversial. It is known that it was the first food made – perhaps by the Chinese. However, archaeological remains attest that the bread was consumed by the Egyptians and that it became common in the diet of the Greeks, being later incorporated into Roman customs. In this tradition, a piece of bread, broken by hand, is dipped in wine before starting the meal.
The same gesture is eternalized in the Christian ceremony of communion, in which it has a sacred meaning, making us one and blessed beings. Bread symbolizes the body of Christ, active life, purity, sacrifice and small mysteries, while wine symbolizes contemplation and great mysteries.
SPICES
The condiments, capable of enriching and giving color, flavor and perfume to staple foods, such as rice, beans, lentils and chickpeas, are considered real treasures by the Indians. And, in such a spiritualized culture, the act of eating does not satisfy only the palate. Through food, it is possible to establish harmony between body, mind and spirit. This integration constitutes true prosperity.
According to Hindus, food is the sacred gift of Brahma, the Creator God, and therefore, it is the best offering at religious festivals. Everything is prepared with great care and dedication.
The so-called garam masala, a perfumery blend of spices and herbs – made from cloves, cinnamon, anise, cardamom, coriander, cumin, ginger, turmeric and used in the preparation of cereals and meat -, is the soul of Indian cuisine. Thanks to the European navigators of the 15th century, who brought spices to the West, we can taste these exotic aromas and flavors and still give them a special meaning, related to abundance and abundance.
RICE
This cereal is abundant in Japan, China, Korea and Indonesia, and the tradition of 5,000 years ago considers it a symbol of abundance. The habit of throwing rice at the bride and groom after the wedding ceremony is Chinese: a powerful emperor wanted to prove his abundant life and made his daughter’s wedding take place under a rain of this cereal. Rice is part of Buddhist altars across Asia, symbolizing good luck, happiness and prosperity.
And, in the routine, it is at the table and in the most trivial greetings the Chinese often ask, “Did you eat your rice today?” – which is equivalent to our “how are you? Everything in order in your life? ”.
In Korea, newborns are fed rice cooked in the first three weeks of life, to attract good luck and abundance. It is customary among adults, before beginning to eat, to throw away a spoonful of the cereal, inviting the gods to share the food and renew the request for abundance.
Another curiosity: in South Korea, as in Japan and China, the food is served in many jars. For these peoples, the more bowls at the table, the more abundance they attract.
Food is our engine and will always be our main source of energy but if we know how to use it and respect it we may be surprised by the results.
RL WEB 