Can food have a religion?

During my visit to Jordan last week, I got to eat burbara, a dessert typically made by Christians from the Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, and Jordan) right before Christmas.

The dish was made by my cousin, who invited family members to come to enjoy the dessert and spend quality time together during the holidays.
This, of course, got me thinking about food and religion.

Can food have faith?

The answer is yes, especially if you live in the Levant. In that part of the world, Christians celebrate St. Barbara with this sweet wheat berry dessert.

Who is St. Barbara?

Saint Barbara or Barbāra, venerated as a saint by many Christian denominations, is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers (A group of saints venerated together by Roman Catholic Christians because their intercession is believed to be particularly effective against diseases).

Believed to have lived in present-day turkey during the 3rd century, Saint Barbara is one of the most highly venerated saints in the Catholic Church. She is typically invoked to protect against fire, lightning, storms, and sudden death…