{"id":1738,"date":"2012-12-14T20:21:41","date_gmt":"2012-12-15T01:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theasiangrandmotherscookbook.wordpress.com\/?p=1738"},"modified":"2012-12-14T20:21:41","modified_gmt":"2012-12-15T01:21:41","slug":"multicultural-holiday-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/picklesandtea\/multicultural-holiday-celebration\/","title":{"rendered":"A Multi-Culti Christmas and New Year To You!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

I was about 14-years-old in this picture taken during a family celebration. You can see the tippity top of the nasi tumpeng in front of my parents. No one is smiling except my mum! Hmm… My excuse? I was a teenager!<\/p><\/div>\n

When I was growing up, fragrant yellow coconut rice was right at home sitting next to the roast beef and\/or honey-baked ham during Christmas dinner.<\/p>\n

Every year, my mum would make nasi tumpeng, yellow coconut rice served with a smorgasbord of Indonesian dishes. Come to think of it, the roast beef and the B\u00fbche de No\u00ebl<\/em>\u00a0were probably an afterthought!<\/p>\n

Mum’s first task was to make rice imbued with the fragrance and flavor of coconut milk and turmeric (nasi kuning or yellow rice, my recipe here<\/a>). She would then mound the rice into a cone atop a bed of banana leaves folded in an intricate pattern origami-style. This \u201cmountain\u201d represents the numerous mountains and volcanoes that dot\u00a0the\u00a0\u00a0thousands of islands that make up the\u00a0Indonesian archipelago<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Around the base of the cone, Mum would arrange various foods that she\u2019d prepared over the past week in neat piles: shredded egg omelet, ayam goreng, (fried chicken), empal (sweet and spicy fried beef), teri kacang (anchovy with peanuts), tempe orek (fried tempe), perkedel kentang (potato cutlets), and anything else that she fancied.<\/p>\n

\"My<\/a>

My mum recently made nasi tumpeng for a friend’s wedding<\/p><\/div>\n

The cone mimics the holy mountain, once revered as the abode of ancestors and gods, and its height symbolizes the greatness of Allah. The rice\u2019s golden hue symbolizes prosperity and wealth. The food at the base of the cone symbolizes nature\u2019s abundance.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, this feast was created in thanksgiving for an abundant harvest or a blessing that a family has received. Today, nasi tumpeng is still widely served to celebrate any special occasion, be it a birthday, a marriage, or even a successful business venture.<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, nasi tumpeng fit perfectly into our holiday celebrations, a time of thanksgiving and hope for a prosperous New Year.<\/p>\n

Buoyed by my own memories, I asked my friends if they had any fusion holiday traditions to share. They sure did!<\/p>\n

Filipino<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Large<\/a>

Bibinka is a popular Christmas treat in the Philippines (Photo credit: Wikipedia)<\/p><\/div>\n

According to Happy<\/strong>, Filipinos traditionally go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. When they come out, the streets in the Philippines are usually lined with vendors selling tasty, freshly steamed treats. \u201cPeople look forward to Christmas midnight mass because this is the only time the vendors sell these items this early in morning,\u201d she says. The treats include \u201cputo bongbong,\u201d a purple rice flour treat steamed in a bamboo tube and served with shaved coconut; and \u201cbibinka<\/a>\u201d is a rice flour and coconut milk treat, steamed in banana leaves and cooked in a clay pot.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn America, it is common for families to continue cooking these treats during the holidays to remind them of the Philippines,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

Japanese<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"New<\/a>

A variety of Japanese New Year’s dishes (Photo credit: JanneM)<\/p><\/div>\n

Hiroko<\/strong> spends two days preparing a traditional Japanese New Year\u2019s Day feast for family and friends. \u201cFor New Year\u2019s Day, each food has meaning\u2026 We always start with these three as the root,\u201d she says, describing the following foods: \u201ckuromame,\u201d black beans, which represent the hardworking ethic of the Japanese people; \u201ckazunoko,\u201d salt-cured herring roe, the thousand eggs symbolizing a wish for a large and prosperous family, and \u201cgomame,\u201d a tiny fish that reflects growth and good luck.<\/p>\n

Chinese<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sticky rice stuffing is a common dish served by Chinese Americans during Thanksgiving and Christmas<\/p><\/div>\n

Every Christmas, Virginia<\/strong>\u2019s family combines American traditions of turkey and ham along with their \u00a0family tradition, Chinese Sticky rice<\/a>, at the dinner table. \u201cInside the sticky rice, my parents would add \u2026 Chinese sausage<\/a>, shiitake mushrooms, and dried shrimp,\u201d she says. \u201cFor us, sticky rice represents family unity and togetherness — which is especially important now that my siblings and I live in different parts of the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSticky rice is something I look forward to every year!\u201d she says. (Find my recipe here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Taiwanese<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"hot<\/a>

Assorted ingredients surround a hot pot waiting to be dipped into the soup (Photo credit: StudioGabe \/\/ Gabriel Li)<\/p><\/div>\n

Tina<\/strong>, a Taiwanese who grew up in Guam, remembers spending New Year\u2019s Day around a hot pot. \u201cIt brings the entire family together over one pot of boiling soup with a variety of ingredients,\u201d she says. \u201cMoreover, it\u2019s a hot soup dish and simply appropriate for the cold winter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indonesian<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chicken<\/a>

Indonesian bubur or congee or rice porridge (Photo credit: Wikipedia)<\/p><\/div>\n

For Titania<\/strong>, congee and Chinese wine were staples to ring in the New Year when she was growing up in Indonesia. \u201cWe put preserved salty plum in the wine to create a unique salty and sour (from the wine) taste and we\u2019d toast with that at midnight,\u201d she says. \u201cThen we would eat up the chicken and pork \u201cbubur\u201d (Indonesian-style congee) that my mom made to warm us up.\u201d<\/p>\n

By blending old and new, adding a dash of east meets west, plus a sprinkle of creativity, we can all design our own family traditions for the holidays. But regardless of what is served on the table or what gifts are under the tree, remember that being together as a family and sharing each other\u2019s company should be number one on everyone\u2019s wish list.<\/p>\n

(These quotes were originally published in a 2007 Northwest Asian Weekly article)<\/p>\n

Do you have a fusion holiday tradition to share?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

~~~<\/p>\n

This post is \u00a0part of #LetsLunch, our monthly Twitter-inspired food bloggers potluck. This month, it\u2019s holiday celebrations around the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to check out the Let\u2019s Lunchers\u2019 creations below (the list will be constantly updated). And if you\u2019d like to join Let\u2019s Lunch, go to Twitter and post a message with the hashtag #LetsLunch.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Annabelle\u2019s Pecan Slices at\u00a0Glass of Fancy<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Emma\u2019s\u00a0Latkes<\/a>\u00a0at Dreaming of Pots and Pans<\/i><\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Grace\u2019s Persimmon Salad at\u00a0Hapa Mama<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucy\u2019s\u00a0Ham and Cheddar Scones<\/a>\u00a0at A Cook and Her Books<\/i><\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s\u00a0Orange Honey Cake<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I was growing up, fragrant yellow coconut rice was right at home sitting next to the roast beef and\/or honey-baked ham during Christmas dinner. Every year, my mum would make nasi tumpeng, yellow coconut rice served with a smorgasbord of Indonesian dishes. 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