Christmas cookies at the beginning of autumn, Easter eggs before Carnival – what used to have a fixed place in the annual cycle as a tradition has become arbitrary today. This fosters a longing for a time when people could still look forward to something. Until the 1960s, food in Germany was often intertwined with ritual contexts. Customs and religion determined when certain dishes were cooked or which baked goods were prepared. This cookbook takes you into the almost forgotten world of magical and traditional foods: New Year's pastries and fasting dishes, cult herbs, and fairground meals. Events in the life cycle – baptism, wedding, and death – were also associated with specific ritual food combinations. A chapter on communal dining rounds off the collection. The recipes are accompanied by background information and references.