Giving Thanks pt. 1

Mark:

Introduction:

Welcome to Grub & Grace, where bread puns happen when you yeast expect them. I am your host Mark Flower, and this podcast is my learning journey via discussions with friends as we share a meal. Today’s episode will be a bit different, than the usual setup, as I will be talking about the cultural practices and traditions around the world regarding giving thanks for food before and after a meal. We'll uncover its origins, historical significance, and why this practice spans across just about every culture and religion. So, let’s dig in!

History:

Historically, the practice of giving thanks can be traced back to ancient times. In many early cultures, including the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, offerings and prayers were made to deities before meals. These rituals were seen as a way to ensure divine favor, to punish wrongdoers and acknowledge the gods’ role in providing sustenance. In fact, according to Adrian Butash in his book “Bless This Food: Ancient & Contemporary Graces From Around the World”, giving thanks started with the earliest man, evidenced by the 30,000-year-old drawings of horses and bulls in the Lascaux (lás-kōh) caves of southwestern France. Butash writes:

“The extraordinary art in these caves celebrates animals as both a gift from the Almighty and sustenance on Earth. To me, these paintings are pre-language symbolic thought, an illustration of thanks-giving for life-sustaining food.”

In the theologist Laurel Schneider’s book, “Polydoxy: Theology of Multiplicity and Relation”, she says that in the time before pasteurization and refrigeration, “blessings may have been part purification (we pray that this food will not mysteriously kill us)” which was often prayed along with simple gratitude and the practice of “pleasing God/the spirits/the ancestors. Food “is not ours to begin with, but loaned to us” by those entities, keeping us humble and in proper harmony. “I do like the universality of blessing food,” she says. “It reminds us that our bodies are part of spirituality, too.”

The term "saying grace" itself has deep roots, particularly within Christianity. The term comes from the Ecclesiastical Latin phrase gratiarum actio, "act of thanks." Although, many sources state that the theological usage is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means “favor” or “kindness”, and is a derivative of the word gratus, which means “pleasing.” Theologically, the act of saying grace as seen in the Bible, Jesus and Paul prayed before meals (cf. Luke 24:30, Acts 27:35). This practice reflects the belief that humans should thank God who is the origin of everything.

In the Christian tradition, saying grace has its own set of origins. The practice is believed to have been influenced by the Last Supper, where Jesus gave thanks before breaking bread with his disciples, even though the act of giving thanks predates Christianity throughout the Psalms as well as in Judaic prayers. Early Christians adopted this practice, and it gradually became a widespread custom in Christian communities around the world until present times. I had the opportunity to ask several of my friends how they give thanks.

Interviews:

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Cultural Practices:

The act of giving thanks before a meal is a ritual practiced around the world, but the specific ways we do it can vary widely. In Korea, many religions span the culture with their own practices, but a common practice I am familiar with is by saying “jal meokkesseumnida,” which contextually translates to “thank you for the meal.”

In Judaism, Birkat Hamazon has several stanzas and in Hebrew means “blessing on nourishment,” or “grace after meals.” Jews all over the world say a single line before eating, depending on the food they are blessing. “Blessed are you, lord our god, king of the universe, who has given us fruit of the vine,” for instance, is for fruit.

In the Philippines, Igorot men and women give thanks for the rice harvest by performing a dance called bumayah, which includes movements imitating a rooster scratching the ground.

In Hartford, Connecticut, the official birthplace of American Sign Language, gratitude for food is expressed using the sign for thank you: The signer moves a hand from the mouth forward to display a flat palm.

In Ghana, thanks for a meal is simple: Earth, when I am about to die I lean on you Earth, while I am alive, I depend on you.

Chef and nutritionist Rebecca Katz, author of “The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen” mentions how our bodies benefit from a pause to give thanks: “Taking a moment of gratitude before you start eating,” she says, “gives you the opportunity to breathe and fully take in the sight and smell of your food.” This pause puts our body in a parasympathetic state which takes us out of our default “fight or flight” state and makes food easier to digest.

Whether it’s a solemn prayer or a quick thank-you, the tradition of saying grace underscores a universal human experience: appreciation for the sustenance that nourishes us. It’s a reminder to pause and recognize the small, everyday miracles that we often take for granted, all while giving all thanks to God.

Outro:

That’s it for today’s episode of "Grub & Grace." I hope you enjoyed this exploration of saying grace and its rich history. My challenge for you is to reflect upon what it means to you personally to give thanks. Remember to visit our website grubandgrace.com as well as our socials on facebook, instagram, and X. Until next time, stay curious, keep an open mind, and celebrate the traditions that bring us all together.

This week’s recipe is a stunning blood orange tarte! With its vibrant citrus flavor and beautiful presentation, it’s the perfect dessert to impress. Visit our website for the full recipe and tips to make this elegant treat at home. Enjoy!