Martha Greco

Editor-in-Chief

The holiday season is filled with quality family time, gift-giving, and traditions, but one thing that makes the festive season so special is the food present. Spending hours in the kitchen preparing the perfect meal and then gathering around the table with family makes the holidays so beloved among many.   

   “I just look forward to it every year because my grandma makes the best food, and she always just goes and buys a lot of these yummy meals from Salem Kitchen,” Ashley Russ said. 

   Russ’s holiday buffet includes turkey, potatoes, cranberries, rolls, ham, and brussels sprouts. However, for Russ, the holidays are not only about a delicious meal but spending time with family and reflecting on gratitude. 

   “I’m just very grateful to be able to enjoy these sumptuous and delicious meals by the side of my family,” Russ said. “Whenever I think of these yummy foods, I think about spending time with my family.”

   Many holiday food dishes come from tradition. Whether it be an inaugural dish or one passed down for generations, traditions hold a special place in the yearly festivities. 

   “Every Christmas Eve, my family makes a big batch of crepes,” Lucy Hatch said. “It’s really important to me because I’ve been doing it since I was little, and it’s just a great way to be with family and spend time together.”

   Holiday foods and their customs also come from religious backgrounds. EC Resource Teacher Joel Zendel celebrates the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which includes traditional food that reflects the importance of the celebration. 

   “For Hanukkah, the food tradition would be having latkes, which are fried potato pancakes,” Zendel said. “You can have it with sour cream, applesauce, or both. But for me, it’s applesauce, and it’s just to remember everything that happened in Hanukkah.”

   With these delicious dishes come hours of shopping at the store and then cooking in the kitchen. Like most traditional food, latkes are a process to make. 

   “You grate potatoes, you grate onions, you put it in cheesecloth, you get the liquid out, then you fry it in oil,” Zendel said. 

   Food during this time is more than just a meal. It is through food we celebrate our cultures, gather with family, and express our gratitude for the holiday season.