As the cold snowy season approaches, so do the holidays.The two most celebrated holidays in Christian and Jewish religions. Christmas and Hanukkah! These two holidays have such a wide variety of food and niche recipes that everyone can enjoy, no matter their culture or religion.
Rooted in ancient Christian history, Christmas follows the idea of transitioning into the winter solstice, yet has been turned into the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Over centuries, customs like mistletoe, stockings, trees, gift giving, and even traditions like Santa Clause created the modern version of this holiday that we have all come to love.
In Italian Culture, Christmas has become deeply rooted in family, faith, and traditions – focusing on feasts, nativity scenes, and unique gifts. Presented to me by the Sapienza family, a family that follows the religious traditions of an Italian Christmas – Manicotti is a staple in their household on Christmas Day.
Manicotti is a comfort food at its finest – creamy, cheesy, and satisfying with every bite. This piece has a perfect balance of flavor and texture, making it warm and hearty.
“I look forward to Christmas every year because [manicotti] became a staple in our family,” Senior Teresa Sapienza shared.
On Christmas Eve, it is a common practice in Italian-American households to not eat meat, so cheese filled manicotti with classic sauce serves as an ideal main course for the perfect holiday.
| Ingredients | Recipe |
| Manicotti Pasta:
2 Eggs 1 Cup Flour ¼ Tsp of Salt 2 Tbsp of Oil 1 Cup of Milk Filling: Ricotta Cheese 1 egg – nutmeg Sugar for Taste |
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While Italian Christmas celebrations center on religious customs and festive gatherings, the spirit of the holiday takes on a distinctively different character as we move across the globe to the Philippines. Here Christmas blends festive music and decorations, strong family bonds, faith, and a unique tradition of a midnight Noche Buena feast on Christmas Eve. A dish brought to my attention by Junior Erin Nerona is Turon.
“Turon is something my family always makes around the holidays because it’s simple but brings everyone together,” Junior Erin Nerona explained. “It’s usually shared while spending time with family, which makes it special during Christmas.”
Turon is a delicious Filipino snack made by wrapping bananas, and frying them to crispy perfection. This treat represents the acts of sharing, warmth, and togetherness – all things that are essential to Filipino values. Its sweet, caramelized flavors and satisfying crunch makes it a perfect treat to enjoy with family.
| Ingredients | Recipe |
| Lumpia Wrapper
Brown Sugar Banana Cooking Oil |
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As Christmas has become the staple holiday of the winter, Hanukkah recipes fall under the radar. One Hanukkah dish introduced to me by the Fleytekh family is Drainiki.
“[They] are a combination of my two cultures, Ukrainian and Jewish. This style of latkes allowed soviet jews like my family to celebrate their holiday in a time of religious intolerance,” Senior Maya Fleytekh shared.
Drainiki are traditional Eastern European pancakes, very similar to Latkes. This tasty treat holds symbolic meaning during Hanukkah, reflected in the Hanukkah miracle in which a small amount of oil lasted for eight days in the Temple. These simple ingredients also represent perseverance and simplicity, values that resonate with the themes of Hanukkah.
| Ingredients | Recipe |
| Draniki:
3 Large potatoes 1 small yellow onion 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 egg 1 Tsp. salt ¼ cup Flour 408 Tbsp. olive oil Sour Cream: ½ cup Sour Cream 1 Tsp. Lemon Juice 1 pinch of garlic 1-2 pinches of salt |
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