Ashure

We had a special opportunity this evening at our Peace & Spirituality Center to share Ashure - "Noah's Desert" - with some Turkish Muslim friends of one of our Sisters. They are members of Acacia Volunteers, a group (mostly of young engineers and students from Turkey living in the Seattle area) dedicated to intercultural dialogue.

I had never heard of Ashure, but I can testify that it is yummy! More than that, it is part of a long tradition. You can read more here, but essentially legend has it that when Noah's Ark landed on the top of the mountain at the end of the flood, they wanted to celebrate but didn't have much food left. Everyone brought out the bits of legume and seeds and wheat and dried fruit that they had left, and they made a pudding. Every year since, the legend continues, people have continued to make the pudding! It is traditionally shared with friends and neighbors.

What a nice tradition, and one that I felt honored to participate in tonight!