Food for Celebration

I find it interesting that every time we see a celebration or holiday mentioned in the Bible, there are instructions regarding food.  They are times of remembrance of when God worked in and through his people.  There are times when people are called to fast.  Other times people are called to feast.  During the Passover, there were specific instructions not only of what they were to eat, but of how they were to eat it as well.  Food seems to be a central part of celebrations in all cultures around the world either in the denial of it or in a feast of some type (or a combination of the two).  While the advent season is traditionally a time of fasting, Christmas Day is traditionally a day of feasting.

We feast because we are celebrating the coming of Jesus, both in the past and in the future.  We can rejoice in all Jesus did by coming to earth to accomplish our salvation.  It is always awe inspiring for me to read John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  We can also feast in expectant hope of Christ’s return.  Jesus, who is the Truth, has told us, “Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”(John 14:1-4)  The joy of Christmas is Christ’s coming, and that is cause for celebration!

Every culture and family has different traditional foods that they associate with Christmas.  I have read stories of a Christmas goose and pudding, yet those were never on my table growing up.  My grandmother always insisted on a turkey and usually one other type of meat.  I know other families that go out to eat or have something catered.  That is a great way to enjoy the celebration without taking time to prepare food.  I love cooking and baking, so the food preparation is part of the celebration for me!  Some of my favorite foods include beef roasts, roasted vegetables, stuffing (sometimes called dressing), mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and desserts like apple pie, pecan tarts, chocolate crinkle cookies and snickerdoodle cookies.

My husband and I started a new tradition after we got married by hosting a Christmas party for friends and family on the day or two before Christmas.  It is a revolving door of people coming to enjoy good food and fellowship.  Unfortunately, it looks like that probably won’t happen this year due to gathering restrictions.  I am making the best of it by enjoying cookie baking and planning yummy food for our family.  Even if we are limited to just our immediate family, we will still enjoy a feast!

Whatever food or traditions you have, we can all still celebrate the coming of Jesus!  We can look back at that first Christmas when Jesus came as a baby, both fully God and fully man.  We can also look forward in expectant hope of Jesus’s return.  “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.”  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen.  (Revelation 22:20-21)