Grief and Its Relationship with Food

In each session:

Session 1: Grief in Psychoanalysis and Fideo Soup

Objective: Explore grief from a psychoanalytic perspective, linking it to a simple yet comforting dish like fideo soup.

1. Theory:

   • Introduction to grief in psychoanalysis, focusing on Freud’s concept of "Grief and Melancholia."
   • The connection between comforting food and grief: how food can act as a source of emotional comfort and support during grief.
   • Link to Mexican Food:
     • • Fideo Soup with Tortillas: We will try mexican fideo soup, a dish often associated with family warmth and comfort. This meal can symbolize emotional care during times of sadness.

Session 2: Grief in Anthropology and Pan de Muerto

Objective: Approach grief from an anthropological perspective, connecting it with Mexican traditions like altars and Pan de Muerto.

1. Theory:

   • Anthropological view of grief: how different cultures have ritualized death and grief.
   • The significance of altars and Día de los Muertos in Mexico, where food plays a crucial role in honoring the dead.
   • The symbolism of Pan de Muerto: its history, meaning, and role in altars.

2. Practical Activity:
   

   • Link to Mexican Food:
     • Pan de Muerto: We will try Pan de Muerto to share with the group.
       

    

Session 3: Grief in Sociology and Mole

Objective: Analyze grief from a sociological perspective, exploring how food—particularly mole—plays a symbolic and communal role in the mourning process.

1. Theory:

   • Grief as a social phenomenon: how communities and families manage collective loss.
   • Mexican funeral traditions that involve food as a way of gathering people and offering emotional support.
   • The significance of mole: a dish rich in history, often served during both celebratory and mourning events, representing a complex mix of emotions.

2. Practical Activity:
   

   • Link to Mexican Food:
     • Mole: We will try Oaxacan mole to share with the group. While tasting the dish, participants can reflect on its complex flavors and ingredients, symbolizing the multifaceted emotions involved in grief.
       

    

Session 4: Grief, Rituals, and Mezcal

Objective: Explore the rituals associated with grief and how mezcal, as a symbolic beverage, reflects both life and death in Mexican culture.

1. Theory:

   • The role of rituals in the grieving process: from small, personal gestures to more formal ceremonies that help bring closure.
   • The symbolic significance of mezcal: a drink connected to the land, life, and death. 
   • Mezcal in Mexican rituals: its use in ceremonies and its importance in honoring the dead or marking significant life moments.

2. Practical Activity:
   

   • Link to Mexican Beverage:
     • Mezcal: Share mezcal in a ritualized setting, explaining the importance of "toasting" as a symbolic act to honor the memory of loved ones.