By Kristina Millare
Rome Newsroom, Mar 2, 2025 / 06:00 am
As the season of Lent approaches, many families around the world embrace the tradition of preparing homemade delicacies to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ during his journey to the cross. While fasting and abstaining from food are common practices during Lent, the culinary traditions of different cultures offer a unique way to commemorate this solemn period.
Mexico
In Mexico, families prepare Capirotada, a dish similar to bread pudding, on the Fridays of Lent. This sweet treat holds rich religious symbolism related to Jesus’ crucifixion. The bread rolls symbolize the body of Christ, while the honey or piloncillo syrup represents his blood. Whole cloves signify the nails of the crucifixion, cinnamon sticks represent the wooden cross, and the melted cheese coating symbolizes the burial shroud.
In Oaxaca, families prepare and serve Aguas frescas on Good Friday. This refreshing drink, made with water, fruits, sugar, oats, cereals, seeds, and floral teas, is a symbolic gesture to quench the thirst of Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem. It serves as a modern-day act of kindness, reminiscent of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, by offering a drink to a fellow neighbor.
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The Unique Lenten Foods of Ecuador and Malta
During the Lenten season, different cultures around the world have their own traditional foods that hold special significance. Let’s take a look at two unique dishes from Ecuador and Malta.
Ecuador: Fanesca
Fanesca is a special soup eaten during Lent and Holy Week in Ecuador. This soup is made with cod and 12 kinds of beans and legumes, symbolizing Jesus Christ and the Twelve Apostles at the Last Supper. The dish’s religious importance dates back to the 16th century and is linked to a monastery in Quito, Ecuador, from the Spanish colonization era.
Many families come together to prepare Fanesca, taking part in the process of shelling beans and legumes, and cooking the fish. This communal activity is done with a spirit of prayer, reflecting on the Last Supper that took place just before Jesus’ passion in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Malta: Kwareżimal
Kwareżimal is a sweet treat from Malta that gets its name from the Latin word “Quadragesima,” referring to the 40 days of Lent. These sweet cakes are made with almond paste, honey, and orange rind. In Malta, Kwareżimal is also given to children who participate in a one-day, 14-church pilgrimage to commemorate Jesus’ 14 Stations of the Cross.
These Lenten foods from Ecuador and Malta not only offer a unique culinary experience but also provide a glimpse into the rich cultural and religious traditions of these regions. From the symbolism in Fanesca to the pilgrimage associated with Kwareżimal, these dishes serve as reminders of the spiritual significance of the Lenten season.
