Made by Linda Manchery, Cali Paetow, Jacke Retalis, and David Zilberman
Food and fashion both play important roles in the cultural expressions of many ethnic groups. A study of how and what people eat provides a deep understanding of the diverse cultural background being studied. Many foods serve as part of religious traditions, and also part take in certain cultural superstitions. There are certain customs that are associated with food consumption. As part of the Indian tradition, meals are eaten without any cutlery. An accepted method of eating involves only using the persons right hand. This is done while sitting on the floor, or a low stool. Caribbean food is a unique fusion of African, French, Spanish, and Indian cuisine. Seafood is a major component of the Caribbean diet because of the locations of the islands. A meal is a time of relaxation and communicating with family members. Table manners are usually considered less important than the experience of enjoying each other’s company. A common dish to both Indian and Caribbean is the roti a type of bread made from atti flour. Food not only indicates cultural expressions of ethnic groups, but it also indicates adaptions to new environments. When ethnic groups emigrate from their native lands, they use different ingredients to make certain dishes due to the lack of key spices in their new homes.
Fashion serves as a means of expression for many different groups of people. The type of clothing one wears may play a role in a certain culture, or it may reflect the type of environment the person grew up in. India’s tropical climate is a reason as to why many people wear short sleeves. On the other hand, modesty plays a huge role as to the types of clothing women wear. Many women will often wear long sleeved clothing, and long skirts, out of respect for the concept of modesty. In the Caribbean, women wear long loose skirts in bright colors along with a short sleeve blouse. This type of clothing reflects the tropical climate of the Caribbean, and the type of environment in which the people are surrounded by. A more traditional type of attire would include both the red and white plaids of the islands.
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