Day 81 - Giving and receiving food doesn't have to be related to a religious holiday although those are big occasions. For example, when it's a Buddhist holiday, Buddhist neighbours are apt to provide gifts of food. Christians and Moslems do the same on their respective observances for all their neighbours irrespective of faith. In addition, the almsgiving for death day anniversaries often includes giving out meals. Sri Lanka is a foodie society with cuisine making the rounds between families on a regular basis.
This area is not nearly as rural as it used to be but close-by neighbours still know and keep watch for each other. Yesterday, two neighbourhood siblings from the back property stopped by to get some Tupperware and containers. Rather than always marking ones lending dishes, and if prearranged, one's own bowls and be filled by a neighbour. Of course, part of the fun is seeing how quickly kids grow between visits.
Later in the evening, our dinner was dropped off by the whole family. We enjoyed soup and the vegetable fried rice. This family wanted to give us a meal just because we were visiting. They made chicken for us and because Jay's sister doesn't eat it, she got fish. There were Chinese-style vegetables. Dessert was chocolate biscuit pudding. It was a nice gesture and a very Sri Lankan sort of one.
