The Land of Milk and Honey

Food is essential for all organisms. In addition to its life-sustaining aspect, dreams and desires can also be expressed through food. This includes foods that provide comfort and joy and are associated with a special feeling of well-being. They remind us of carefree days of childhood, evoking nostalgic and sentimental emotions. In this way, food is charged with meaning.

Stories about food and eating habits exist in the literature of various cultures. The German poet Hans Sachs created in the 16th century the idea of “Cockaigne,” where houses are made of gingerbread and streams flow with milk. A utopian dreamland where everything is freely available. This vision of plenty is often used metaphorically to describe an effortless state of contentment and happiness.