Barbecue

First Mention: Colonial Times

Use: Deliciousness

When you think of the good ol’America what are some of the images and words that come to mind? Team America’s  lyrically rich song – America F@ck Yea! Does a fine job of describing the general viewers response. But one thing that they omit surprisingly is the picturesque summer suburbia image of the husband in the backyard getting ready to cook! Barbecue is such a major part of the American culture that throughout the past few centuries it has constantly remained a staple of our diet. In fact, barbecue is so American that the only thing comparable to it might be the bald eagle (let us hope the two never cross paths in their American journeys).

Let us start our journey to the crispy piggy back doorways of heaven by first understanding from just where the word barbecue originated. The etymology of the term is vague today, but many theories seem to generally agree that the word started out from the West Indian term “barbacoa” which was a method of slow-cooking meat over coal. Once the Europeans came to the West Indies and were introduced to this method of cooking they adopted the word and modified it to their own uses. The technique employed in the cooking process, building a stand for the meat above the flames, became more generally used. For instance people would sleep on the “barbecue” so that they do not wake up with snakes, spiders, or bugs in their pants and poop deck.

But enough of word play, let’s go back on topic. The practice of barbecuing developed alongside the United States. Since pigs are easily maintained creatures, colonists would keep pigs in pens and save them for when food was low. Every part of the pig was consumed, and the barbecue process was found suitable at the time. Yet, barbecueing really became a part of American tradition in the decades preceding the Civil War, particularly in the South. Southern plantation owners would hold monthly or weekly barbecue fests for their slaves which would last the entire day. Following the Civil War, these barbecue practices which started on the plantations would be continued in churches and by small families, reminding them of the fun and joy the barbecue days brought to them in a time when happiness was a luxury.

It is sad in some ways how people today misunderstand the real meaning of barbecues. The day long process of coming together, and enjoying festivities as the meal slowly becomes prepared for consumption.