Syrian Food: Women Heal and Unite
Written by: Unknown
Date Written: December 10, 2013
Click here to read this article
Before the Syrian Civil War, cooking was a form of bonding that brought many Syrian women together. Women would spend hours in order to cut vegetables and fruits into unique shapes. To Syrians, the appearance of food was very important. The taste of the food also had to be the same as the second bite. The food had to be perfect. "We used to cook in sadness and in happiness," said one Syrian women. Every night, Syrian women would host dinner parties for more than thirty people. But now, since the Syrian War had resulted in the separation of many families and many had fled the country, there is no longer any room to host thirty people. Food was now scarce in some parts. However, a cooking program, Atayeb Zaman, gives women a place to put their cooking skills to use and gain a living. The program also enables women to bond with each other and build friendships.
It's unfortunate that the Syrian War had forced families apart and caused many to flee the country. I thought it was very interesting that the Syrian women treasured cooking so much. However, it is also heartwarming that the Syrian women worked so hard everyday in order to provide food for not only their family but also their friends. Programs such as Atayeb Zaman help families in so many ways. Women are able to do what they love most and provide food for those who can not afford any. The women are also paid in doing so, therefore they are also able to provide for their family, at the same time, the women are able to build friendships like they had in Syria before the war.
It is obvious that cooking is an important part of Syrian culture. One women even said, "When everything else is changing, cooking is the only thing that has stayed the same." Cooking is one of the many ways to preserve one's culture. And that is why the Syrian women's cooking is important to Syria.
Date Written: December 10, 2013
Click here to read this article
Before the Syrian Civil War, cooking was a form of bonding that brought many Syrian women together. Women would spend hours in order to cut vegetables and fruits into unique shapes. To Syrians, the appearance of food was very important. The taste of the food also had to be the same as the second bite. The food had to be perfect. "We used to cook in sadness and in happiness," said one Syrian women. Every night, Syrian women would host dinner parties for more than thirty people. But now, since the Syrian War had resulted in the separation of many families and many had fled the country, there is no longer any room to host thirty people. Food was now scarce in some parts. However, a cooking program, Atayeb Zaman, gives women a place to put their cooking skills to use and gain a living. The program also enables women to bond with each other and build friendships.
It's unfortunate that the Syrian War had forced families apart and caused many to flee the country. I thought it was very interesting that the Syrian women treasured cooking so much. However, it is also heartwarming that the Syrian women worked so hard everyday in order to provide food for not only their family but also their friends. Programs such as Atayeb Zaman help families in so many ways. Women are able to do what they love most and provide food for those who can not afford any. The women are also paid in doing so, therefore they are also able to provide for their family, at the same time, the women are able to build friendships like they had in Syria before the war.
It is obvious that cooking is an important part of Syrian culture. One women even said, "When everything else is changing, cooking is the only thing that has stayed the same." Cooking is one of the many ways to preserve one's culture. And that is why the Syrian women's cooking is important to Syria.