A luxury in times of scarcity
After the Spanish Civil Warthe 1940s marked a period of deprivation where access to animal foods It was limited. The most coveted products were reserved for special dates like Christmas, when entire families celebrated the end of a difficult year and hoped for better times with a special meal.
Among these dishes, chicken was a symbol of abundance and celebration. Today it is a common food on weekly menus, but in the post-war period only households with more resources could afford to include it in dinner. Christmas Eve. Even chickens, which could produce eggs, were considered too valuable to be sacrificed outside of festive celebrations.
From Christmas to everyday food
THE economic development and the social development of Spain, especially since the middle of the 20th century, has profoundly transformed the food availability. The development of poultry farming and the industrialization of white meat production allowed chicken to cease being an exclusive product and become an almost standard product in Spanish families.
While in the post-war Christmas tables were mainly supplied with legumes, rustic breads and fish when available, improving the purchasing power and food logistics has brought animal products closer to regular consumption. What was then festive and exceptional has become an integral part of the daily diet.
The impact of modernization
He production boom food on a large scale and the reduction of its costs They have incorporated many ingredients previously considered expensive or inaccessible into their weekly shopping trips. He chicken illustrates this phenomenon: from a Christmas delicacy, it became a food of regular consumption from the 1970s and 1980s.
This change not only affected chicken, but also other meat products And milkmanwhich began to be seen with less luxury stigma and greater accessibility thanks to agricultural policiestransportation improvements and industrial transformation.
Christmas traditions in Spanish gastronomy
Christmas gastronomy in Spain has always been linked to celebrationhe share and the symbolic value of food. In many regions, dishes such as seafood, roasts, sausages or typical treats like Polvorones and Mantecados complement family gatherings during the holidays. These dishes are deeply rooted in regional traditions and have evolved over time.
In Castile and León, for example, the bite of a roast suckling pig either lamb continues to be a festive classic, while in the south the seafood or traditional stews. Although customs vary, the essence of the Christmas meal revolves around sharing products that symbolize abundance, community and celebration.
From rarity to modern mores
THE culinary history of Spain reflects the way in which economic and social circumstances shape eating habits. In the post-war period, many families lived with severe restrictionsand Christmas has become an opportunity to enjoy products beyond the usual reach. Today, without these restrictions, many of these foods have lost their air of exclusivity, but they retain their cultural value within the festivities.
Thus, dishes once synonymous with luxury now coexist between weekly menus And special celebrationsrecalling not only the flavors, but also the profound changes experienced by several generations in the country.
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