Pesaha

We have @craftingcurries Catherine George a.k.a. Cathy talking to us about Lent and Easter food traditions followed in her Syrian Christian Catholic home. Today she shares with us the tradition of Pesaha, followed by Syrian Christians on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday, in the Christian calendar. At the heart of this ritual is the preparation and eating of Pesaha Appam with Paal, symbolizing the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples.

“Pesaha Appam is called Inri Appam by some. The Appam is not fermented as one generally would do. A dough is made with a mixture of Rice Flour, Urad dal, grated Coconut, Garlic, Shallots, Cumin and salt. It is then kneaded and shaped into a round. Before steaming, the bread is imprinted with a cross signifying Jesus's crucifixion. Many would use the Palm leaf from Palm Sunday to make the Cross. We serve it with Pesaha Paal-Jaggery Coconut Milk. The Paal is made of Jaggery, Coconut Milk, Dried Ginger and Rice Flour which is used as a thickener. It has the consistency of a Payasam”.

Traditionally, Pesaha is served after the family returns home from attending church on Maundy Thursday. The family sits together, says a prayer, and the eldest member of the household cuts the bread and distributes it. This is not a meal. It is a custom followed to mark the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper. The bread is cut into small portions and dipped in the Paal and eaten. Often, this is the last morsel of food that one consumes before Good Friday.

Just like many traditions, this too seems to be a dying one. “Many say the kids won’t eat it, what’s the point, it is just another tradition, but there are a lot of people who still keep it alive”. Cathy grew up in Calcutta, and although her mother ensured Syrian Christian food habits were part of their lives, this particular tradition was brought back to her family after she got married. “I felt it was quite a nice thing to do and started doing it with my family. Even if we don’t make the Appam we make the Paal. My family looks forward to eating the Paal on Maundy Thursday”.

Beyond its religious significance, Pesaha also fosters a sense of cultural identity and heritage among Syrian Christians. It is a time for families to come together and pass down traditions to younger generations.