Food
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someone’s physical characteristics (e.g. He’s as skinny as a string bean. His belly
shakes like a bowl full of jelly.); or, to describe someone’s personality (e.g. Harry
is a cream puff. She’s as sweet as sugar.); or, to describe a situation or activity
(e.g. Something is fishy here. That crossword puzzle is a piece of cake.). How
we use food expressions depends on how we perceive the food, or the culture or
subculture associated with the food.
3.
Have you ever stopped to really think about what you and your family eat every
day and why? Have you ever stopped to think what other people eat? In the movie
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, there are two scenes in which the two
leading characters are offered meals from a different culture. One meal, meant to break
the ice, consisted of insects. The second meal was a lavish banquet that featured such
delicacies as roasted beetles, live snakes, eyeball soup, and chilled monkey brains for
dessert. Some cultures eat such things as vipers and rattlesnakes, bush rats, dog meat,
horsemeat, bats, animal heart, liver, eyes, and insects of all sorts.
4.
Throughout history, food has been used as a symbol of wealth or gratitude,
or to demonstrate position and power. In some cultures, eating lavish and exotic
meals is a sign of wealth and power, whereas eating only the basic foods is a sign
of belonging to a more common class. In some cultures, the offer of a glass of
cool, clean water is the greatest compliment or honour one can receive. In some
cultures, whenever you receive a guest, whether for business or pleasure, you must
offer them something to eat or drink: the more lavish the offering, the greater the
respect or honour you give that person. Diet is not a consideration.
For centuries, food has been a key element in religious rituals. Food was used
as offerings to the gods. Certain foods such as lamb, bread and bitter herbs are
religious symbols in some ceremonies.
The sharing of food demonstrates acceptance, friendship, family and love. To be
invited to “break bread” with a family, shows respect in many cultures and is a sign
of friendship and acceptance. In the West, chocolate and sweets have long been a
symbolic exchange of affection and bitter herbs are religious symbols between lovers.
FLTRP
