New Year's Kapama Dinner-Just a Memory Now


02-15-2010

New Year’s Kapama Dinner

For some a chicken dinner is just a chicken dinner, but for my family on New Year’s Day, chicken dinner is not just chicken dinner. It’s tradition!  It’s the once a year meal with the unique aroma and flavor of a cinnamon-orange sauce that tenderizes and flavors the meat and tops the already flavorful macaroni expertly dressed with mizithra and burnt butter.  It’s a meal that is symbolic for the specialness of the day, a day that begins a New Year and therefore, is one of blessings and love; for we believe that what you do on New Year’s Day is the start of what will be all year. So there are no tears, no fighting, no anger, and no sorrow. Even in times of sadness or struggle, the focus is always on “the good”-- the goodness of life and the goodness of meals shared. When we gather around the table, we pray, remember those who are no longer with us, and share this delicious meal. The stories abound with a focus on “all that is good,” and a family rhythm takes over… chatter, chatter and pass the platter, diets tomorrow and pass the platter, smell that sauce and pass the platter, share the feelings and pass the platter, share the love and pass the platter.  It’s a New Year, we are family, and life is good.


  

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