Asian Holiday Delicacies

Asia is full of a mix of religions, and on top of that, there is the mix of holidays that have been practiced in Asian culture for centuries. So, how exactly do they celebrate their holidays? They will often agree on a celebration that can be agreed upon by anyone: food.  Something that often comes as a surprise to many is that in Japan, the people celebrate Christmas with boatloads of KFC.  Though I could not tell you how exactly this tradition started, I think it should be practiced more outside of Japan as well. It is also worth noting that during Christmas time, most of Eastern and Southeastern Asia agree on celebrating Christmas with cake. This idea of cake might be different from country to country. For example, Japan celebrates with a soft sponge cake, while the Christian community in India considers plum cake, soaked for weeks in toddy, palm wine, or brandy, and laden with spices like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon as their Christmas cake. Additionally, Sri Lankan households prepare Kokis and Kavum, intricate, deep-fried cookies and oil cakes made from rice flour and treacle, crisp, sweet, and essential for communal sharing. In Indonesia, in regions with Christian populations, Christmas is celebrated with Kue Nastar. These are delicate pineapple tarts, buttery pastry cups filled with pineapple, and are a labour of love; their shape resembles a golden pinecone. These are just a few examples of ways that Asian countries celebrate Christmas, though few, they are largely different from the ways the same holiday is celebrated in the West. These delicacies symbolise wealth, prosperity for what’s to come, and a strong sense of togetherness.