in English original
This object has been translated into 10 different languages by 11 different users
Making and sharing food is one way to have a good conversation, and share our successes and worries with one another, celebrate, and even talk about difficult subjects. This is a basket tray for serving food at a gathering, made from coiled dyed plants to make this colourful pattern. This example is listed as being from ‘Nubia’, an old kingdom in Africa, but similar ways to share food in a group are found in all cultures.
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31 May, 2023
Comment in Tigre written using Arabic script
31 May, 2023
The Tigre comment above says that trays like this one from the museum are used in Eritrea for serving ‘kesra’. This is a flatbread similar to injera but lighter. As people share this bread from the same tray they come together as a community. Eating kesra together from such trays always starts with giving thanks to God and saying Bismillah.
25 Apr, 2023
In Amharic, audio
5 Apr, 2023
Do you have anything similar in your home?
The Traditional Greek Coffee Trays are the trays used by waiters/waitresses to serve customers in
coffee houses. However, coffee trays can be used by other people in different occasions, and not
necessarily only from waiters or waitresses. For example, my mother always uses her coffee tray if she
wants to serve coffee after a family lunch celebration in our home. Furthermore, it might be called
coffee tray, but apart from coffee someone could, also, carry water, and Greek cookies or desserts
such as moustokouloura (grape molasses cookies) and spoon sweets (sweet preserves).
Others call Greek coffee (originally came from the Ottoman Empire) … Byzantine! Byzantine coffee is
considered to be served with the pot and the cup next to it empty. (Image is taken from
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/kafenio-coffee-detail–438889926156774105/)
31 Mar, 2023
在中国，新年是一个团圆的时刻。人们会提前买好年货，比如坚果和零食，放在盘子中并分享给亲人和朋友。作为一个国际留学生，我和其他几个室友共同分享一个房子。处在这个艰难的时代和转折期中我们经常会遇到很失落的时刻，我们会用分享食物的方式，和彼此聊天，互相鼓励。
In China, New Year is a time of reunion. People will buy New Year’s groceries, such as nuts and snacks, in advance, put them on plates and share them with loved ones and friends. I shared a house with a few other roommates as an international student. In these difficult times and transition periods, we often experience moments of frustration and we share food, talk to each other and encourage each other.
27 Nov, 2023
I loved reading your comment, Olivia. Cooking and sharing food is so good for my mental health when I am feeling down.