Feasting and Fasting

by Duncan, Dorothy

• ISBN13: 9781554887576
• ISBN10: 1554887577
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-10-25
• Publisher: Dundurn Pr Ltd

Summary

This is an introduction to the foods and beverages that were a central part of how our ancestors celebrated important events. Long before the arrival of newcomers, the First Nations were celebrating the passages of life, the changing seasons, and the gifts of the Great Spirit with feasting. As settlers from around the world arrived on Canada's shores, they brought with them the memories and traditions from home. Diverse and unique culinary histories began to develop as the newcomers were unable to find some of their traditional ingredients and were forced to compromise. Wild game, fruit, plants, grains, vegetables, and maple sugar were often transformed from survival foods to the foods of celebration. Food brought families and communities together to pay tribute, to honour, to celebrate, to mourn, and to be comforted. This is a sampling of their events and what was on their tables at births, weddings, funerals, religious holidays, garden parties, and more!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. 11
Preface	p. 15
In the Beginning	p. 21
Welcome to the New Year: From Feast to Fast to Feast	p. 28
Sir John A. at Table	p. 35
Remembering "Rabbie" Burns	p. 45
L'Ordre de bon temps, Order of Good Cheer	p. 51
St. Valentine and the Foods of Love	p. 56
Gung Hei Fat Choi-May You Have Good Fortune and Riches!	p. 65
Shrove Tuesday: The Feast Before the Fast	p. 75
St. David's Day	p. 82
Sap's Running!	p. 89
St. Patrick's Day	p. 102
Celebrations of Survival: Purim and Passover	p. 113
God's Day	p. 122
He Is Risen!	p. 126
"Damned Cold Water Drinking Societies!"	p. 133
Mother: The Hero of the Hearthfire	p. 144
Happy Birthday, Queen Victoria	p. 152
La Fête de St-Jean-Baptiste	p. 165
Dominion Day	p. 173
Feasts of the Fur Traders	p. 179
Pic-Nics, Pleasure Parties, and Garden Parties	p. 198
Secret Societies: Societies with Secrets or Service Societies?	p. 210
High Holy Days: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur	p. 219
Labour Day	p. 226
Let Us Give Thanks	p. 237
All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day	p. 247
Remember, Remember the Fifth of November	p. 256
Lest We Forget	p. 262
La Tire Ste-Catherine	p. 269
St. Andrew: The Man and the Society	p. 276
Feast of Dedication: Hanukkah or Chanukah	p. 286
Christ's Mass	p. 290
Season of Celebrations	p. 303
New Year's Eve and Hogmanay	p. 309
Notes	p. 314
Bibliography	p. 331
Index	p. 340
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.