Little Known Chocolate Traditions
We can often associate chocolate with a few major holidays: Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. Chocolate gets shaped into eggs, jack-o-lanterns, or trees. And that seems a little boring, right? We have Valentine’s Day in February and Sweetest Day sneaks up on us in October. We have an endless cycle of overly done chocolate confections.
One of the things we love about chocolate is it’s versatility. Bake with it, cook with it, make art out of it. There is something to be said for the diversity that we find in chocolate all over the world. Mexican mole uses cacao as one of the key ingredients. In the American Southwest, we use it for delicious BBQ rubs, and in Brazil chocolate is used in a black bean and pork stew (“feijoada”) to deepen flavor. You can dismiss the idea that chocolate is just for candy.
But did you know about these interesting cultural uses of chocolate? Mexico, Japan, India, and West African use chocolate to strengthen cultural heritage and our thoughts toward this commodity.
Pan de Muerto and drinking chocolate
Mexico
Common knowledges that chocolate was born in Mexico. The Aztecs and Mayans used it in religious ceremonies and considered it the “food of the Gods.” It would make sense that this strong cultural tradition would continue centuries later. The early Mayan traditions explained that chocolate had a role in escorting people through death and chocolate has a prominent place in one of the largest celebrations in Mexico- The Day of the Dead.
Chocolate is used to make an enjoyable sweet bread during this holiday. Called “pan de muerto” (bread of the dead), it brings us a little closer to the Mayan tradition, but makes it a bit more modern. So, if you are wanting to do something more daring with chocolate in November this year (Day of the Dead is celebrated November 1st and 2nd), then look up some recipes and have a bit of fun.
Japan
Japan has a Valentine’s Day! Who knew! The first attempt for this yearly celebration was in 1936, but it didn’t get popular until the 1970s. An even better twist is that it is celebrated twice…. sort of.
On February 14th each year, girls will show that they like, respect, or appreciate a boy by giving him chocolate. Such a role reversal is astounding as women across the United States wait in eager expectation each February to see what they might get from their crush. But then, on March 14th, there is a celebration in Japan called “White Day” where the boys who received chocolate on Valentine’s Day are expected to return the favor by gifting chocolate back. It is a win all around for chocolate lovers.
West Africa
It is not often that we think of chocolate traditions in Africa. However, the treatment of chocolate is much in the same in West Africa as it was with the Aztec and Mayans in Mexico. It is considered a sacred commodity, used in religious ceremonies and the marking of special occasions. It can also be used as a form of currency.
The use of chocolate is much more modest than what we are used to here in the states. Instead of flavors, sugar, etc. chocolate is ground up or crushed to make drinks that are used in rite of passages like weddings or funerals. A commodity that is humble in its design, but sacred its usage.
India
Some chocolate traditions, like Valentine’s Day, have been growing in popularity in India. But Diwali, the festival of lights, has incorporated chocolate as a central gift in exchanges between family and friends. Each year, during the festival, there is an exchange of sweets as a symbol of prosperity and joy. Even more, during the festival of Raksha Bandhan, chocolate has become incorporated into the gift giving between siblings as this festival is meant to honor the bond between brothers and sisters.
No matter the culture, it seems like chocolate is used as a way to show honor to another. With so much consumerism in our culture, we can easily forget that chocolate was expensive, rare, and only given to the most worthy of persons. Who is someone that you would like to honor with a gift of chocolate?
