Traditional Recipes: An Adventure in Ottoman Folklore, Aegean Bread and a Cursed Loaf
A crime writer encounters an ancient Ottoman curse – on his bread.
Spilled Salt: Bad Luck or Protection Against Dark Side?
The exploration into the origins of common superstitions continues with spilling salt as a bad omen.
Dumplings and Dragonboats: The Chinese Duan Wu Festival
When I was a little girl, I used to watch with open-mouthed admiration and puzzlement as my mother prepared the ingredients for the making of zong zi (rice wrapped in leaf). She would make a variety of fillings: sweet chestnuts, dried shrimp, pork meat, and mushrooms. There would be a lot of soaking, stewing and […]
The Mid-Autumn Festival: Mooncakes, Lanterns and Family
Of all the Chinese festivals, I love the Mooncake/Mid-Autumn Festival the most. Right after the scary Hungry Ghost Festival or Ghost Month, it is a lovely festival celebrating family gatherings, enjoying sweet mooncakes and admiring the full moon.
Folklore of Food: Traditional Christmas Food
Food and feasting is at the centre of our Christmas celebrations, and folklore and customs play an important part in what we eat.