Middle a Stand Greeks 2

Greeks and Middle Easterners

Chapter 13

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middleeast_ref01.jpg

Quote of the Day:

• “Vietnam is a jungle. You had jungle warfare. Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, you have sand. [There is no need to worry about a protracted war because] from a historical basis, Middle East conflicts do not last a long time.”– Dan Quayle, 10/2/90

• Reported in Esquire, 8/92

Middle East

• Includes countries of Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

• Groups that should be included– No homeland:

• Palestinians (Arab-ethnic group)• Kurds (Indo-European ethnic group)

• Greece is considered a European country– Cultural and food influences of Greece are those in

and of the Middle East

Middle East

• Arab– Someone who speaks Arabic

• History– Immigration stats are inexact on Middle

Easterners– Early Greek and Arabs came for economic

opportunities• Later because of political problems in their countries

– Croatians (Dalmatia)Impact on fig, apple, grape,and plum horticulture in

Northern California

Middle Easterners

• Demographics and SES– Many Arabs deny ancestry

• Difficult to get stats• Due to discrimination• Or political asylum

– Recent Middle Easterner immigrants are well educated

• “Brain Drain”

Middle Easterners

• Demographics and SES– Arab

• 2nd and 3rd generation attend college and graduate in professional fields

– Higher than national average

• Amongst the most prosperous of all ethnic groups in US

Middle East-Worldview• Religion

– Greek• Greek Orthodox

– Serbs• Serbian Orthodox Autonomous Church

– Croatian and Slovenians• Roman Catholic

– Armenians• Armenian Apostolic Church

– Eastern Orthodox base-but more liberal on personal issues

Middle East-Worldview

• Religion– Early Arabs

• Primarily Christian• Eastern Orthodox• Latin Rite Maronite• Melkite or Chaldean Churches

Middle East-Worldview

• Religion• More recent Arab immigrants

– Followers of Islam» Most is Sunni sect

• Iranian (Persians)-many are Shi’ite Muslims• Some are minorities

– Christian– Jewish– Baha’i (Muslim derived sect-no Islam ties-embraces

gender equality, brotherhood and pacifism)

Middle East-Family

• In the Middle East– Strong patriarchal family

• Honor must be maintained

– Well-to-do Middle Easterners live with family in a compound

– Elders live with the families of the sons

Middle East-Family

• In the Middle East– Children are valued– Islam

• Women are equal but different• Role of women

– Socialize children– Provide love and comfort

• Mother-daughter relationship is intimate• Strong bond between first born mother and son

Middle East-Families

• In the Middle East– Marriage contracts are common

• Political and business alliances

– Begin to date• After the marriage contract

– Interethnic marriages frowned on

• In the US– Some Arab women have given up their veils once

here in US– Rise of interethnic marriages– Father loses most of his influence in family

Middle East-Traditional Health Beliefs

• Cleanliness, good diet, keeping warm and dry=health

• Illness may be due to the wind or the air in certain situations-or-punishment from God

• Iranians-4 humoral theories– Most are concerned with hot/cold.

• Physiological temperament is dependent on ratio of hot to cold-tabi’i

• Women-cold, men hot; children hot, elder cool• Can be influenced by diet, climate, geographical

locations, physical conditions

Middle East- Traditional Health Beliefs

• Evil Eye– Blue color protective– Greeks

• Blue houses, blue amulets

– Arabs• Blue beads on children• Garlic also used

• Home remedies common– Botanicals– Herbal teas

Middle East- Traditional Health Beliefs

• Complex medical conditions-Healer consulted– Cupping is done

• Skin cut first

– Wasm (cauterization)• Heated iron rod burns symbolic marks onto the

person• Burns then treated separately

Middle East-Traditional Food Habits

• Common foods– Wheat, rice, olives, dates, legumes and lamb

• Many similar foods and dishes– Due to the political and economic histories

• Staples– Wheat first cultivated in this region

• Many breads• Wheat bread loaves, leavened or unleavened• Greece

– Leavened flat bread (pita/pida)

• Armenian cracker bread– Lavosh

Middle East-Traditional Food Habits

• Staples– Wheat

• Bread doughs to make savory & sweet pies– Desserts filled with nuts & covered in thick honey or sugar

syrup inside filo dough– Phyllo (filo) is thin, flaky may also be used to make

pies/pastries» Baklava traditionally served-special occasions

• Bulgur– Tabouli

» Onions, parsley (or mint), fresh vegetables– Kibbeh (Syria and Lebanon)

» Cracked wheat, onion and lamb pounded into a paste-raw, grilled or filled

Middle East-Traditional Foods

• Staples– Rice

• Long grain used to make pilaf• Basmati-fragrant rice

– Legumes (beans and peas)• Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) used to make hummus

– If mixed with fava may also be used for falafel

• Foul for breakfast– Fava, or black beans with chopped tomato, garlic, lemon

juice, olive oil and cilantro

• Lentils• Peanuts

Middle East-Traditional Foods

• Staples– Vegetables

• Eggplant– Combined with tomatoes or tomato paste with onions and

cook until very little liquid remains» Yakhini (Arabic) or yiachni (Greek)

– May be stuffed with meat mixture

• Stuffed grape leaves-dolmas

– Fruits eaten as desserts or snacks• Figs, dates, pomegranates

– Lemons used in cooking or as a spice

Middle East-Staples

– Olives• Olive oil used in cooking

– Arabs and Greeks may also use clarified butter (samana), margarine or lamb fat

» Used in dishes that are supposed to be cold

• Black– Ripe when picked-small round, bitter and salty

• Green olives– Picked unripe, oblong shape, firm flesh, smooth skin, tart

flavor

• Kalamata olives– Large and oblong, soft flesh and purplish, smooth skin

Middle East- Staples

• Dairy products• Milk

– Used to make cheese• Goat, sheep or camel

– Feta-soft and crumbly

– Kaseri-firm, white aged cheese

– Lebneh-very soft-made from salted yogurt whey

– Yogurt• Served plain or mixed with cucumbers• Diluted and made into a drink

Middle East-Staples

• Meat and Seafood– Most kinds

• No pork in Muslim or Jewish areas• No shellfish in Jewish areas

– Lamb is most widely used meat• Whole and roasted-special occasions• Shish kabob

– Marinated meat thread onto skewers

– Tomato, onions, peppers then grilled

• Kofta-meatballs

Middle East-Staples

• Spices and Herbs– Dill, garlic, mint, cardamom, cinnamon, oregano,

parsley, pepper, sumac (on salads)– Ajowan (black seed) and mahleb-made from pits

of a fruit

• Ground nuts are used to thicken stews and soups– Sesame seeds crushed to make tahini– Halvah-dessert made from sesame (may be

cheese-based or wheat also)

Middle East-Staples

• Alcohol– Not consumed by observant Muslims– Turkey

• Raki

– Greece• Ouzo

– Serbia• Sljivovica-plum brandy

Middle East

• Regional Differences– Israel

• Most diverse• Due to different Jewish groups settled in Israel

– Arabic foods have more grains than Greek, Turk, Armenian, Iranian diets

– Meat & cheese more popular in Greek, Turk, Armenian, Iranian diets

Middle East

• Regional Differences– Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia

• Strong Turk influence– Due to Turkish rule

• Also central European influence– Paprika flavored stew– Dumplings– Roast pig– Stuffed cabbage– Sauerkraut dishes

Middle East-Daily Patterns

• Meal Patterns– 3 meals per day

• Hot climates have a nap after midday meal• Dinner served in evening• Snacks served

– Mezze

Middle East-Daily Patterns

• Meal Patterns– Coffee or tea for breakfast

• Light meal that may include cheese, eggs, jam and bread, olives, plain yogurt

– Midday• Meat and vegetable stew served with rice and

bread

– Light Supper• May included sandwiches

Middle East-Daily Patterns

• Beverages– Tea

• Flavored with mint

– Coffee• Flavored with cardamom

– Made in long-handled briki– Very strong, thick, sweet brew

Middle East-Etiquette

• Hospitality is a duty– Family status

• Measured by how guests are treated

– Guests are automatically offered food and drink• Even if they refuse at first, eventually they must accept• Refusal is an insult

– Guests bring candy or sweets• Host must open it immediately• Offer some to the guest

Middle East-Etiquette

• Some countries– Women eat separately from the men– Guest are entertained in a separate room

• Scented water is provided so that they may wash their hands

Middle East-Etiquette

• Dining table may be metal or wood and low, guests may sit on pillows– Iran

• Guests may be served on a rug– In cities, more westernized-chairs

• Meal is set out in several bowls• Coffee and tea are served in another room

• Must eat with only 3 fingers– Must lick fingers after eating

Middle East-Etiquette

• If one person stops eating– All the people stop eating

• Leave some food on the plate– Shows satisfaction with the food

• Only niceties are discussed at the meal

• Host and hostess should always be complimented

Middle East-Special Occasions

• Food important in celebrations– In Islamic countries

• Iftar– The meal that breaks the Ramadan/Ramazan fast– Water, odd amount of dates (some people don’t

count) and coffee and tea– Soups, fruit or fruit juices, kataif (stuffed pancake

like-or shredded wheat-like dessert)

Middle East-Special Occasions

• Food important in celebrations– In Islamic countries

• Eid al-Fitr follows the end of Ramadan/Ramazan

– Fairs and feasting

• Muharam-most significant in Iran– Martyrdom of Mohammed’s grandson

• Spring equinox Nau Roz– Must include 7 foods starting with the letter “s”

Middle East-Special Occasions

– Turkish-National Sovereignty and Children’s Day/Turkish American Day in US

• Honor children with parades

Middle East-Special Occasion Feasts

• Armenians– St. Vartan

• Independence from former Soviet Union

• Croatia– Christmas

• Cod and stuffed cabbage and sauerkraut

• Slovenian– St Nick’s feast

• Children given gifts by St Nick– Dresses as a bishop and tells the children to be good

Middle East-Special Occasions

• Serbians – Celebrate Krsna Slava (Patron Saints Day)

• Each family honors it’s own patron saint• Feasts and dancing may last for 2-3 days• May begin feast with a bread called Krsni Kolac

– Which is decorated with the religious Serbian emblem Samo, Sloga, Srbina, Spasava

» (Only Unity Will Save the Serbs)

• Grapes, wheat, birds, flowers and barrels of wine also served

Middle East-Therapeutic Uses of Foods

• Much food=little illness• Hot or cold shifts may cause illness• Fresh foods better than canned ones

(may be avoided)• Food combinations to avoid

– Fish and dairy products-Egypt– Melon and fish– Sour milk with melon