February is a multicultural month, and it has two grand celebrations: Black History Month and Valentine's Day. Both of these celebrations have direct culinary traditions that speak of heritage, love, and community.
A Feast of Love
On February 14th, Valentine's Day is all about the language of love, and this is generally expressed in rich foods.
Chocolate is the third favorite food during holidays. It was originally a gift food that became a Victorian phenomenon. In 1868 that an English confectioner created the first heart-shaped box of chocolates, capitalizing on the romance of the candy.
Other than the chocolates, there have also been certain foods that have gained a love and romance element over the years. Oysters, for example, have been an aphrodisiac since the good old days and hence the option for romantic dinners.
Other herbs carry romantic connotations, such as lavender, rosemary, and basil. For instance, basil has been employed for ages as a symbol of fertility; lavender is used as it is both an aphrodisiac and sedative; while rosemary has been utilized for love and has even been used in wedding rituals back to medieval times.
A Culinary Heritage Celebration
Black History Month is a time in February celebrating the richness and success of African Americans. Food is the most important in the celebrations, and the traditional recipes used serve as an identity and way of remembering cultural heritage.
The majority of African American foundations are found in Africa and the Caribbean. Okra, yams, black-eyed peas, and collard greens were some of the things shipped on the transatlantic slave trade that can be found in soul food today.
A prime example of this heritage is red beans and rice. Red beans and rice were created in Louisiana and were a Monday tradition, where beans cooked throughout the day as the household chores were completed.
Another classic dessert that comes to mind would be desserts. For instance, there is the Purple Sweet Potato Pie - a variation of the classic prepared using purple sweet potatoes and spices like citrus, cardamom, and ginger.
In the past few years, through meals like the "Follow Your Roots" dinner, it has become possible to bring to the forefront the profound influence that African ingredients have had on food globally. The dinner was held in New York City and centered on dishes based on iconic products of the African diaspora: okra, salt codfish, sweet potatoes, black-eyed peas, pork, sugarcane, and sorrel.
A Celebration United by Food
Even as Black History Month and Valentine's Day celebrate such different aspects of the human experience, the two are together in the power of food as a means of communication. Whether it is presenting a rich chocolate dessert to one's beloved or cooking a historic soul food recipe that has been handed down across generations in the family, such food traditions unite people, tribute heritage, and celebrate human culture in all of its complexity.
In Philadelphia, with such diversity and history, there are several events and restaurants that one can visit in order to partake in these traditions. Eating at Black restaurants in the city or participating in cultural festivals will provide one with a greater appreciation of the culinary arts involved in these February festivities.
As we move ahead in February, these food customs allow us to be included in a common feast of heritage and love that widens our appreciation to the cultural texture that makes up our communities.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/news/valentines-day-chocolate-box-history-cadbury
https://540westmain.org/black-history-month-food-and-traditions/
https://parade.com/1156738/jocelyndelkadams/best-soul-food-recipes
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/black-history-month-recipes
https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2