Pesaha Appam
Pesaha Appam is the unleavened Passover bread made by the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India to be served on Passover night.[1] It is served on passover night of Maundy Thursday. Pesaha appam is made from rice batter like Palappam,[2] but it is not fermented with yeast in its preparation.[1]
Traditionally, Pesaha Appam is served in a ceremonial manner on Passover night in Syrian Christian households. The head of the family cuts the appam, dips it in paalukurukku (syrup) or Pesaha Pal (Passover milk), and serves it to the other family members.[2] The Pesaha Appam is sometimes referred to as INRI appam. The word INRI comes from the acronym INRI, the Latin inscription IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum), which translates to English as "Jesus the Nazarene (Galilean), King of the Jews (Judeans)"
The Pesaha Appam is derived from the ancient bread of Jewish tradition.[1] It has survived and continued as a tradition by the Nasranis that migrated to Kerala from the levant in the early days of Jewish Christianity.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] During Passover the Saint Thomas Nasrani Christian prepare bread without yeast in accordance with the Jewish commemoration of Pesahah or Passover. This unleavened bread is prepared only for Passover and is called as Pesaha Appam or Passover unleavened bread. This was also followed by the Malabar Yehuden or Malabar Jews of kerala.[1]
Pesaha pal (passover coconut milk [חלב קוקוס]) is served along with Pesaha Appam on the night of Passover.[9] This tradition of Pesaha appam was observed by the entire Nasrani people until Portuguese persecution as well as the Cochin Jews.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Marks, Gil (2010) Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, John Wiley and sons
- ^ a b Amprayil, Kuruvilla Cherian (16 March 2008). "Kerala Nazranee Pesaha Receipes". Nasrani Syrian Christians Network. http://nasrani.net/2008/03/16/kerala-nazranee-pesaha-receipes/. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ Menachery G (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568; B.N.K. Press
- ^ Menachery G (ed) (1982) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, B.N.K. Press, vol. 1;
- ^ Menachery G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol. I, The Nazranies, Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].
- ^ Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd, 1970. (is a readable and exhaustive study of the St. Thomas Christians.)
- ^ Leslie Brown, (1956) The Indian Christians of St. Thomas. An Account of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1956, 1982 (repr.)
- ^ Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.
- ^ a b c Koder S. 'History of the Jews of Kerala".The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Ed. G. Menachery,1973.
- ^ T.K Velu Pillai, (1940) "The Travancore State Manual"; 4 volumes; Trivandrum)
[edit] External links
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