Food Traditions

The biggest tradition surrounding food in my family is around the time of Samhain, otherwise knowns as Halloween. Samhain is a time to remember the people who have gone before, it is also the last of the harvest ceremonies, food plays a big part in the ceremony. It is also the pagan new year, so drinks like mead and wine are also big parts of the ceremonies. The traditional meal is called a dum supper.

A dum supper is a meal that is done in honor of the ancestors. A home cooked meal is prepared and the table is set with an extra place. The extra place is for the ancestors, when serving the meal the ancestors are served first and the meal is eaten in silance till everyone is done. The reason for the silance is to remember those who have paassed away and think on the good or bad things that you remember about them. Maybe come to terms with something they have done that you were unhappy with. The ancestors plate is not eaten if there is anything left over, it is placed outside for the fairies. Wine or mead is the traditional drink and the left overs of that are placed outside as well for the fairies or other spirits passing by.