Tamales Essay

Tamales are an important North and Central American food and have been around since as late as eight thousand B.C. They have an incredible and expansive history shaped by many areas and many peoples. Tamales are important culturally and ritually in a variety of places both near and far. The process of making tamales is very time consuming and has many steps that all must be attended to with care. There are many different types of tamales, which are all served in different ways. Tamales are vary important and have been since their invention. Despite all the change that has occurred in the world, tamales have remained a staple in Central American cuisine. Tamales emerged in Central America very early on in human existence. It is unclear in history which civilization actually created the first tamale, although some to which the title has gone are Aztec, Mayan, Olmeca and Tolteca. Tamales were actually created by women to help feed the

Like many other foods such as sushi, tamales originally were eaten during holidays and festivals, but now are eaten without such affiliations. Today however, the art of tamale making still exists to bring people closer together. Tamales often take several days to make and are among the more difficult of foods. Because of this reason, tamale making is viewed as a time of celebration. The time and effort required to make a tamale is immense so being given a fresh tamale shows love and devotion. Recipes and information on the making of tamales are often passed down from mother to daughter, as the tradition of only a female cooking them is still not entirely relinquished. It is not common for a family to make a few tamales because tamales are a social food and are often made by the hundred. The longer time you spend eating with friends the better. So in a way the core principle of togetherness and family extends even