Greetings, friends! Christmas, New year and other holidays are coming. This means that according to the tradition, people will start to cover with generous tables, to hold a feast.

Today it is no secret that the scale with which we celebrate holidays and memorable dates, rather a tribute to tradition than common sense.
In my report, I wanted to raise the question of the origins of this tradition and suggest ways to remedy the situation.

What is a feast?

In ancient and modern cultures there is a common archetypal meaning of the feast. For example, the ancient Greek poet Homer in the poem "Odyssey", describing the feast, shows the rite of passage. For the wanderer (Odysseus), the swineherd Eumaeus arranges a feast for him to be accepted into society. The fact that Eumaeus organizes the meal shows that the stranger is trusted and taken for his own; this removes fear, eliminates possible unforeseen and undesirable incidents.
This is the similarity of Slavic and, in particular, Greek hospitality, which was noted by the historian, collector of Russian folklore Alexander Afanasiev. In Slavic tradition, a stranger or just a guest, who entered the house and sat down near the hearth, was under the protection of his master. To offend the guest meant disrespect for the hearth, which in the view of the Slavs was a Shrine. For the offense caused to the guest, it was possible to pay public revenge: the house of the offender burned. Among the Greeks, such inappropriate behavior of the owner of the house was regarded as an insult to the gods.

Even Sigmund Freud drew attention to this side of the meal, describing the prehistoric archetypes. For example, the Bedouins have a custom, according to which a person who shares food with them in the desert, should not be afraid of them as an enemy, and can even count on the protection and assistance thereof, as long as the food is stored in the body. Thus understood, the connection of companions.
In General, similar traditions of hospitality were observed among North American Indians, the peoples of the Caucasus and others.
Why do we need feasts?

Family feast also makes a lot of sense. It serves to unite the family. Conversations that are conducted at the table, bring together family members.
A dinner party serves to strengthen friendship, strengthen simple emotional ties between the host and the guests. At the table gather on the occasion holidays or sorrowful events (in our time-Wake), and also for simple sustain social ties or recovery those with old friend, which long not saw.

An example of the fact that a joint meal in ancient times served to maintain the unity of the human collective, can be Ancient Rome and Ancient Russia. In Rome there was a custom according to which the local rich man could donate a large sum for the organization of folk festivals with sacrifices at which the poor could eat free of charge. Thus the unity of the various strata of the population within the Roman community was emphasized. In Russia of times before and after Prince Vladimir the feasts sung in epics were a form of communication of the princely power with the people and strengthening of its prestige.

The Russian feast was distinguished not only by hospitality, excellent snacks, but also by abundant libation. And, if for some reason a person was going to leave the hospitable hosts, he was offered 10 glasses of vodka. Otherwise, he couldn't leave the table.

Of course, at the common table often arose and there are disputes, quarrels, fights and murders. And in the old days, the common feast served as a temptation to poison the enemy or the enemy. However, this was not the rule and treated such excesses in a special way. To poison a guest at a feast, or simply a man who has shared food with you in the desert, is a dishonorable thing. But a quarrel or even a fight "for beer" in Russia was not punishable, provided that its participants make up before they leave the feast, or after they sober up.
Anthropologists believe that the history of the formation of the community of human collectives unfolds parallel to the history of the feast and in its forms.
Can traditions be changed?

Everyone knows that traditions have incredible power. But the current environmental situation requires us to change our attitude to food consumption. It's no secret that the food purchased by modern families in large quantities often ends up in the trash.

How to make people more conscious about food consumption? How to make our table truly "sustainable"?

I have a few rules that I try to follow in my life.
Before going to the store, I always make a shopping list and try not to go out of limit.
I do not make food stocks, because from experience I was convinced that these stocks deteriorate quite quickly.
If I see that I have formed a certain supply of food that I will not be able to eat before it deteriorates, I put up an ad in a group of students in the dormitory of my University and give this food free of charge to the needy.
I also passed on my attitude to the Russian feast to my parents. Now, when we gather at the festive family table, we prepare exactly as much food as we eat at one meal.
I will be glad to know what useful habits my fellow ambassadors have introduced into their families and their lives.

Sources:
https://histrf.ru/biblioteka/b/kak-rodilis-nashi-zastoliа

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