Living in Culture

Food is so much more than just something to provide nutrition. It is used in rituals, represents traditions, and is symbolic. What people eat reflect their values, beliefs, and their identity. Food can help anthropologists understand every day life in an easier way.

Food & Rituals

Food is often used in religious ceremonies, for example, offerings, fasting, or feasting. Food can also help to mark life transitions from birth to death. Additionally, certain foods carry a sacred or taboo status, which affects their consumption in their cultures. Sometimes, the preparation and distribution of food may be as important as the food itself. For example, at Shinto shrines, offerings of rice, sake, and salt are made to the kami (gods). In some cultures, staple foods become sacred through ritual, but sometimes, there are foods specifically made for a holiday. Pan de muerto is baked specifically for Día de los Muertos, and it carries many symbolic elements. For instance, the circular shape represents the eternal cycle of life and death.

Food & Symbolism

Across cultures, everyday foods carry symbolic meanings. In Sri Lanka, milk rice (kiribath) is eaten at moments of transition, birthdays, New Year, and new beginnings. It is seen as a symbol of luck and prosperity. Similarly, in the United States, cakes often symbolize personal milestones. On the other hand, due to the labor-intensive process to make it, kimchi often denotes care, labor, and community. Through these symbolic meanings, food becomes a second language in cultures to communicate ideas about life, luck, beliefs, death, and many more.

Food & Relationships

Sharing food is rarely just about eating; instead, it is a way of showing respect, care, and belonging. In the Middle East, offering guests coffee or tea is seen as a mandatory act of hospitality, and refusing it may be seen as disrespectful. Also, in Sri Lanka, serving food to elders first reflects the hierarchy and respect in a family. Italian families often have long, shared meals to reinforce family bonds and prioritize social connections between family members. Across these cultures and many more, sharing food functions as a quiet but powerful way of reinforcing social relationships and cultural norms.

Food & Identity

Food is an incredible vessel for someone to express their personal and cultural identity. A great example of this idea is the case of immigrant families. They often preserve their identity through the food they create, and cook traditional meals even if the ingredients are difficult to find. Being able to cook a “proper” version of a dish can also foster a sense of community and acceptance. Also, one’s identity can be showcased through the way they make specific dishes, as there may be wide regional varieties of one dish throughout a country. For example, in Italy, pasta shapes and sauces vary by region, and the shape that means the most to you may be special because it reminds you of your heritage.