The most blessed season of celebrations is in December. Though the days grow shorter, the great religions celebrate with lights.
The Jews celebrate Hanukkah with the lighting of menorahs; Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by lighting Advent candles; and Kwanzaa is celebrated by lighting candles corresponding to seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
All of these celebrations brighten the growing December dark, but there are also wonderful meals. The Jews enjoy latkes and the Kwanzaa celebration includes foods from Africa, but also foods from the south such as yams, squash and corn. I don’t know that Christmas has special foods, although I’m sure each family has its own feasting traditions.
My grandparents were Swedish and Italian. I can tell you there were lots of sweets from each side of the family that included chocolate, almonds, apples and pomegranates.
My Italian father loved telling stories of the Greek gods and goddesses. He told how Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of grain and fertility of the earth, was abducted by Hades and taken to the Underworld. She refused to eat while in that dark place. Demeter searched for her child and was struck with a powerful grief that caused all plants to die.
Zeus finally sent word to Hades that he had to send Persephone home, and he acquiesced, if she had eaten nothing. However, Persephone had eaten some pomegranate seeds, which meant she would have to return to Hades for a time every year. That is how we got winter, my father said. A sad story, but the reason we add the jewel-like pomegranate seeds to our family Christmas feast.
As I was thinking of the many vegetables that would be served at a Christmas dinner, I thought of some of those Kwanzaan items like sweet potatoes, regular potatoes and squash that show up on my table, but I might add guacamole made with avocados and tomatoes. Apple pie is always a staple.
We are so fortunate to have so many wonderful vegetables and fruits in our supermarkets in these modern days, but the Pilgrims had a much more modest feast at the first Thanksgiving. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, squash, apples, pears, oranges, almonds, ginger and many other foods were not native to Europe or to New England. Many originated in South America and even the apple originated in central Asia.
At this time of year, you can also find colorful poinsettias in many shades almost every time you go into the supermarket. They make great festive gifts. Poinsettias originated in Mexico and were given the name poinsettia in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was a botanist and the first ambassador to Mexico in the 1800s. Of course, these brilliant plants are substantial shrubs in Mexico.
Even the holly wreaths and swags are made of English holly, which is beautiful with its red berries.
I am amazed when I think of the fruits, vegetables and flowers from every corner of the globe that feed us every day — and on our great December celebrations.
Pat Leuchtman has been writing and gardening since 1980. Readers can leave comments at her website: commonweeder.com.