Instead you are invited to write a check for $10+ to InterAct Cleveland or donate online here before reading more about the tasty treats found within many of the religious traditions in the Greater Cleveland interreligious community. 

Traditional Religious Foods

Christmas Pudding
Christmas Pudding  is the dessert traditionally served on Christmas Day (December 25) or the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Christian prophet. It has its origins in England, and is sometimes known as plum pudding. Traditionally everyone in the household, or at least every child, gave the mixture a stir and made a wish while doing so before the pudding was boiled in a pudding cloth. It was common practice to include small silver coins (or other symbols for future wealth and luck) in the pudding mixture, for those who found them in their portion. (Recipes)

 
Haft Sîn, or Seven Dishes
Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, explained that Naw-Rúz, or Persian New Year, was associated with the Most Great Name of God, and was instituted as a festival for those who observed the Nineteen day fast. Haft Sîn or the seven 'S's is a major traditional table setting of Naw-Ruz. Today the Haft Sin table includes seven specific items starting with the letter 'S' or Sīn in the Persian alphabet.

The Haft Sīn items are:

•     sabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth
•     samanu - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence
•     senjed - the dried fruit of the oleaster tree - symbolizing love
•     sīr - garlic - symbolizing medicine
•     sīb - apples - symbolizing beauty and health
•     somaq - sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
•     serkeh - vinegar - symbolizing age and patience.
  

Hot “Cross” Buns
In many historically Christian countries Hot Cross Buns, a sweet, yeast-leavened, spiced bun made with currants or raisins, marked with a cross on the top, are traditionally eaten hot or toasted on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of The Crucifixion. Some say that the origin of Hot Cross Buns dates back to the 12th century, when an Anglican monk was said to have placed the sign of the cross on the buns, to honor Good Friday, a Christian holiday also known as the Day of the Cross. Supposedly, this pastry was the only thing permitted to enter the mouths of the faithful on this holy day. (Recipe)

Judith's Latkes
Latkes are grated potato pancake, flavored with onion or garlic. Potato pancakes may be topped with a variety of condiments, ranging from the savory (such as sour cream) to the sweet (such as applesauce or sugar).  Latkes are eaten on the Jewish holiday Hanukkah because they are fried in oil. Oil, especially olive oil, symbolizes the miracle of the curse of oil in The Temple which lasted for eight days instead of one. Judith, a Jewish heroine, saved her people by feeding salty latkes to an enemy leader forcing him to drink more wine on the eve of battle. (Recipe)

Ganesha’s Favorite Sweet
This festival celebrates the birthday of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god who is the son of Shiva and Parvati in the Hindu tradition. Ganesha is the remover of all obstacles and difficulties; he is the one who will grant success in all human endeavors. Therefore, no new venture is started without first praying to Ganesha. Ganesha's favorite food Modak (a wheat flour pastry stuffed with coconut and jaggery and baked on a griddle) is offered to the deity and served throughout the festival's duration. (Recipe)

Gudwara Karah Prashad
In the Sikh tradition Karah Prashad is a type of Semolina sweet confection made with equal portions of semolina, butter, and sugar to emphasize the equality of men and women. It is offered to all visitors to the Gurdwara, or worship site. This confection is blessed by the guru and should not be refused as that would be an insult to God and to the hospitality of the Gurdwara.  (Recipe sans blessing)

Nine Pointed Star Cookies
A simple nine-pointed star is generally used by Baha'is as a symbol of their faith. The number nine has special significance in the Baha'i Revelation.
-          The word "Baha" (Arabic for “Glory”) corresponds to the number nine in the Arabic system of numerology, known as the Abjad system.
-          Nine years after the announcement of the Bab in Shiraz, Baha’u’llah received the intimation of His mission in the dungeon in Tehran.
-          Nine, as the highest single-digit number, symbolizes completeness. As the Baha'i Faith claims to be the fulfillment of the expectations of all prior religions, this symbol, as used, for example, in nine-sided Baha'i Houses of Worship, reflects that sense of fulfillment and completeness.

Baha’i families make these  at traditional holidays or specifically for Ayyam-i-Ha. 

Noah’s Pudding
Ashure or Noah's Pudding is a Turkish dessert that is made of a mixture consisting of grains, fruits and nuts. Its anecdotal history it is claimed that when Noah's Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat in northeastern Turkey, Noah's family celebrated with a special dish. Since their supplies were nearly exhausted, what was left was cooked together to form a pudding. It is the symbol of sharing joy – the joy of Noah’s landing, and God’s bestowments to many other Prophets. This dish is distributed to friends, relatives, neighbors, colleagues, etc. without regard to the recipient's religion or belief system as an offering of peace and love. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The Archangel Gabriel counseled me so frequently regarding the rights of neighbors that I was afraid the neighbor would be declared an heir as well”. (Recipe)

Passover Matzo Brickle
Matzah, or unleaved bread is a traditional dish during the Jewish holiday of Passover which celebrates the ancient Israelites freedom from slavery in Egypt. The Torah, or scriptures, says that it is because the Hebrews left Egypt with such haste that there was no time to allow baked bread to rise; thus, flat bread. Matzo has also been called Lechem Oni (Hebrew: "poor man's bread"). There is an attendant explanation that matzo serves as a symbol to remind Jews what it is like to be a poor slave and to promote humility, appreciate freedom, and avoid the inflated ego symbolized by leavened bread. (Recipe)

 
Ramadan Date Cookies
Traditionally, dates are known as the food Muhammad ate when he broke from his fast. Today, it often is used to end the daily fast during Ramadan, Islam's holy month during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Those dates are eaten fresh, dried and in any number of treats. Gourmet date shops sell date-filled chocolates, date mustard, date syrup and date bars. Visit any home or office in the kingdom and you invariably will see a small plate heaped with dates on a coffee table. (Mahyoosa or Date Cookie Recipe)

Shrikhand
Shrikhand is an Indian sweet dish made of strained yogurt. It is one of the main desserts made on Gudi Padwa, the day Brahma created the world after the deluge. The yogurt is tied and hung until all the water has drained off, the result being a thick and creamy yogurt. Dried and fresh fruit such as mango are also added. On the festive day, courtyards in village houses will be swept clean and plastered with fresh cow-dung. Even in the city, people take the time out to do some spring cleaning. Women and children work on intricate rangoli designs on their doorsteps, the vibrant colors mirroring the burst of color associated with spring. Everyone dresses up in new clothes and it is a time for family gatherings. (Top photo)

A Sikh Langar Meal
The Langar or free kitchen was started by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people of the world regardless of religion, caste, color, creed, age, gender, or social status. In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of Langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind. "the Light of God is in all hearts."

Everyone is welcome to share the Langar; no one is turned away. The food is normally served twice a day, every day of the year. Each week a family or several families volunteer to provide and prepare the Langar. This is very generous, as there may be several hundred people to feed, and caterers are not allowed. All the preparation, the cooking and the washing-up is done by volunteers and or by voluntary helpers (Sewadars). So the saying goes: First Pangat, then Sangat.

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