Table fellowship : a religious experience? Some reflections on the Maltese context

Abstract

The article focuses on the contribution of anthropology to table fellowship. In the first part of the paper, one encounters a wide spectrum of information from research by cultural anthropologists on the bonding experience involved in food gathering, the cooking process and the sharing of food round a common table. The paper highlights spiritual sharing which is a constitutive dimension of authentic table fellowship, and the value of being graced and enriched by guests present at table. The second part of the article treats a number of specific meal traditions particular to the island of Malta - the family meal on the occasion of the village religious festa; the outdoor meals associated with folk festivals held on the feast of St Peter and St Paul (28-29 June), and that associated with St Gregory (on the Wednesday following Easter). The symbolic meaning of these meals is underlined, as is the feeling of togetherness of the group which has assembled to celebrate.