We all know it: Christmas is a season of joy, tradition, and indulgence, a time when families gather to celebrate together with family and, of course, plenty of good food. What many of us may not know is that many of our favorite holiday flavors and traditions owe much to the centuries-old contributions of monastic communities.
For centuries, monasteries have been hubs of culinary excellence. They preserved ancient recipes, innovated techniques, and crafted handmade delicacies that we not only find in our Christmas stockings, or on our holiday table, but that we often enjoy throughout the year.
