The Essence of Spain: Paella a Beautiful Ritual

For Spanish people, Paella is way more than just a dish (though if it were only a dish, how amazing it is!) and for various reasons. It is a symbol of the best of our country, our approach to life, food and people, and has been a pillar of our culture for generations. 

Through our Ultimate Paella Guide we have been able to get to know, very in detail and even in a very technical and rational way, everything related to Paella.

But, as much as we go on analyzing and explaining every possible aspect, that can only take us that far.

In reality, explaining Paella in a compartmentalized way does not explain what is truly relevant and important about it: it’s magic and it’s beauty.

As Einstein would say:

“it would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be without meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure”.

Albert Einstein

We are therefore going to delve into the music, the way it makes us feel, that is the true beauty of Paella. Because more than a dish, if anything, Paella is a ritual.

One of which stands out for its ability to make us be present, to feel, and to be with others in joy and harmony.

What is a Ritual

And it has become so, because it is most of all a Ritual. But, is it really worth being considered a whole “Ritual”? Well, let’s see first what a ritual actually is, according to Wikipedia:

“A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed in a sequestered place and according to a set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community. Rituals are characterized, but not defined, by formalism, traditionalism, invariance, rule-governance, sacral symbolism, and performance.”

So according to this definition we can, for sure, claim that the tradition around Paella involves for sure the next elements of the definition:

Aactions, objects, place, sequence, tradition of community, traditionalism and performance.

And we could probably argue that some of the rest could apply as well.

But since this is a beautiful topic, let’s take a deeper look on the importance of rituals and why we believe that Paella is one, and why it is a beautiful one to incorporate in our lives.

Why Rituals Are Important

Rituals have existed from the very early days of mankind, from the early civilizations to our present cultures: rites like dancing and feasting around fire of the early homo sapiens to the passages of college graduation of nowadays. 

And why do we create these rituals? What’s the meaning behind them?

Because as we know, living in itself can be very hard. Life is full of challenges, and even though it is through difficult times that we forge our characters, it can be very discouraging and leave us a sense of feeling lost.

And it is in these times when we need rituals.

Hence, the need for ritual is to create a sense of order, a creation of patterns for our lives. They make certain moments of experiences memorable and meaningful.

Take for instance the “small” action of reading your kid a bedtime story: through everyday repetition it becomes a magic moment that indeed helps your kid sleep while deepening your connection with him or her.

But not only that, since Rituals create time for us. They allow us, through those patterns, to create beginnings and ends, whether it is social phases, human relationships or times of change.

For example, the celebration of love through marriage. They allow us to savor the moment and become more aware of the present and our lives.

And shared rituals are the foundation of culture-societies. Because it is through collections and practice of rituals that most of us agree what is good and worth sustaining.

On a group level it is fundamental in its development because it defines its beliefs and values:

They create synchronicity for a certain group of people creating a sense of union, solidarity and trust in others, turning strangers into acquaintances, or deepening the bonds between already familiar faces.

In essence rituals, like Paella, are symbolic actions that give cohesion to a community, they give recognition, and transform regular interactions into a way of being home, making the world a more reliable and warm place through beautiful and respectful treatment of one and other and to other creatures and objects involved.

The Role Of Catharsis in Rituals

And how exactly does the bonding and deepening of groups happen with rituals? Well, because in every ritual it takes place nothing else than the act of what the ancient Greeks used to call “Catharsis”. But, what does catharsis mean? 

Catharsis means “cleanse” in Ancient Greek. A catharsis is an act of transformation through releasing powerful, contained emotions with the goal of experiencing relief. 

As adults we have certainly learned to repress our feelings, or even show some minimum emotion that may make us look vulnerable, publicly whenever we are upset.

What we have learned instead is to use events or objects as a means of transformation for our feelings. We project our emotions through movies, sports events, etc, which are, in essence rituals. And why? 

Because since we have learned to repress our feelings and emotions, our mind and body need and know how to find a way to express when necessary.

And to do so socially, the most profound and effective way to relieve our grief and stress, when our pain becomes more powerful than our self-control, our bodies reassert the cleansing power of catharsis.

Thus, when going through a Ritual it gives us a space to communicate our feelings, to proyect our problems in a controlled and stable set, and let us communicate our emotions through common ground creating a more basic form of communication and bond with other members. 

We use these moments to understand each other, to feel each other, to forgive each other, to help us cleanse and of course, to celebrate this process.

Cathartic practices are part of many cultural rituals, therapeutic treatments, and psychological theory. 

Ultimately the ability of catharsis is to soothe and purge, to connect with others and learn that we are not alone, forgive our mutual conflicts, focusing on what unites us and doing so by celebrating life.

Because in the end, that is what is all about.

The Paella Ritual

After taking a deeper look into the meaning of what a ritual actually is, and how it develops, then it is very clear that Paella is one for all its purposes.

And since Paella originated around 1590, we can easily assume that it must be quite a good one since it has been part of the culture of Spain for so long, and it’s devotedness only keeps growing year after year, both nationally and internationally.

As usual, let’s explore what exactly makes Paella such an iconic ritual, why it is so important and representative of the best of Spain and the reasons why you might want to incorporate it into your life and into your celebrations.

What Makes The Paella Ritual So Special

What’s best about Paella is that it involves a form of Catharsis that involves fun, celebration and sharing.

Because cleansing our feelings can be difficult, Paella offers us a platform to purge our souls through food and joy, delighting our palates while bonding those who share with us such a fantastic dish.

And while that’s common in many food gatherings, what makes Paella different to other forms of food gatherings such as barbecues? 

That is why, above all, Paella is an act of Love, which is manifested by celebrating with Family and Friends sharing the ingredients of the land.

In order to fully understand the Paella ritual, let’s explore the dynamics and sequence of it, and what are the most beneficial and characteristic aspects of Spain’s most representative dish.

The Paella Dynamics

We have seen how rituals create bonds, community and values in groups of people based on repetition, basically, through the creation of patterns that allow us to identify and connect with the purpose of the ritual.

What is then the classical sequence of Paella that makes it such a special, social and fun ritual? Let ‘s find out!

1. The Set Up – The first thing that takes place is that the chef, the master of the ceremony, with great detail and in gratitude, prepares all the ingredients and equipment necessary that will allow for the Paella experience to happen.
    
2. The Guests Bring the Offerings – The rest of the participants gracefully contribute by bringing (usually previously agreed) some element that will add to the experience. Whether it is wine, jamón, sangría or some special dessert. Because everybody must collaborate!
   
   
3. The Cooking of the Paella – Once the guests have arrived, the chef will, after showing everybody the ingredients of the Paella, start the cooking process with great deal of love and patience the desired dish in front of the guests so it is always present to everybody involved.
   
   
4. The Tasting of the Starters – While the chef takes care of the Paella, it’s time to get the flow going, so guests will start sharing some entrants and delicatessens for the right mood to settle and start opening the bellies for the grand (p)rice.
   
   
5. The Offering of the Paella – Once the Paella is finally cooked, and while everybody is avid to start eating it, the chef will present the dish, and set it either next to the table or in the middle of it, to the diners as a form of celebration and gratitude for what’s about to come, and for everybody’s presence. By the way, joyfully clapping is a must here!
   
   
6. The Distribution of the Dish – This next step is critical: Paella is always served in order. Diners must give their dish to the person next to the chef and he will, plate by plate, serve the portion of Paella that will, again, be passed from diner to diner.
   
   
7. The Feast – Once everybody has received its dish back from the chef and passed by the person next to him, and only then, the real party will take place. The moment everybody has been waiting for, it’s time to devour the Paella!
   
   
8. The Stories & Memories – Because no Paella is a true Paella experience without the laughter and stories shared by the diners. Since it is a dish to be eaten by all together at the same time and place, let’s make it memorable!

The Singular Benefits of The Paella Ritual

Since we have now reviewed the sequence behind the Paella ritual, and we already went through some of its most memorable characteristics, still we are going to review some more points of its particularity and characteristic benefits that it can offer us:

Rice the Universal Food

Because there is no food more universal and that has fed humanity more than rice. And therefore, it is possible to affirm that there has not been a food as important for people as this cereal, the greatest unifier of all. That is why it is very special that Spain’s most iconic dish, the one that has done the most to strengthen ties and feelings, and has brought the most enjoyment to our country, is based on this ingredient.

Natural Ingredients

Of course, a dish that brings so many benefits can only be based on real and natural foods. No artificial ingredients, or weird chemicals or anything like that. Basic products, but of the highest quality. Because if we want to pay a tribute of truth, of love, this is the right way.

Balanced Meal

There may be few dishes in the world that have a balance of macronutrients as balanced as Paella. And it is that this has a bit of everything, and in perfect sync. We have carbohydrates in the form of rice, protein and fat from animals and fiber from vegetables. Can you ask for more?

Good for Health

The more that is known about food, the more it is known that everything that is cooked with natural and unprocessed ingredients is good for the body. But if they are cooked with all the love in the world, and to enjoy the ones we love the most, it cannot sit better on our bodies.

Different Recipes

Because unlike other iconic dishes, Paella offers the possibility of being a creative expression of each one, and is not limited to a closed form. Whether it is meat, fish or vegetable, we can have the Paella that we like the most, whether it is chorizo ​​or broccoli. 

Equal Distribution

And it is that how the Paella is distributed at the same time, and with everyone present from the first moment, we all eat and enjoy at the same time, and in the same quantities (although there are always those who repeat 2 … and 3 times!). And it is that if Paella is about something, it is precisely about sharing.

Why Paella Should be a Universal Ritual

In all honesty, there is perhaps no real reason on why Paella should be a universal ritual.

Well, to begin with, Paella itself is already universally and worldwide known so after all it is not that the world needs Paella to live. However, what a boring world would it be if it only satisfied necessities right?

And that is perhaps the biggest reason why we believe Paella should be universal and for everybody to do it.

Just because the world would be more exciting, more fun, more tasty.

And because cooking a Paella is still very mystified, we wanted to create a product that allowed everybody to have a real, good Paella, to enjoy all the benefits but without the hardest or more difficult aspects of it. 

Because when we started this project, we did it with one intention in our minds. And for us there is only one reason why we want to expand Paella and its beauty, and a product that will make it easier for everyone to experience this dish and become more fond of it:

 Because we love it. Because it's incredibly good. Like, Really really good.
 
And because many of our best memories have been around Paella. Whether is with our family, our friends, a mix of both, or even strangers or business negotiations. 

 Because we know how much it can create good, everlasting moments and memories. And because we know that we still have many memories and memories to live with more incredible Paellas ahead. With wonderful people and in magical places.

 And we want to share it with as many people as we can for you to feel how it makes us feel. 

And just as Mozart did not make any special effort to sell his music, rather he just simply played the piano and through what came from his amazing hands people fell in love with what it sounded. 

Deep down we want the same thing: to share the music of Paella as we feel it, with its magic, but also the lifestyle around it, so hopefully everyone can feel the magic of this special and unique dish.

THANK YOU FOR READING

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