Food Communication to Strengthen Cultural Identity: A Case Study on Saparan Bekakak Traditions in Indonesia

Food has a crucial role in human culture and social interaction. Food is vital in various traditional ceremonies and rituals, especially in Javanese culture. Saparan Bekakak is a Javanese tradition that uses food or offerings as a ritual symbol. Food communication is a field of study that studies how food functions as a medium of communication in social and cultural contexts. This study explores the food communication model in strengthening the cultural identity of Saparan Bekakak as a noble tradition of the Indonesian nation. This research uses a constructivist paradigm with a qualitative research design for the type of case study. The subjects in this study consisted of nine participants, including community leaders (kamituwo, dukuh, bekakak bride makers, cooks, and offerings), local communities, and visitors to the Saparan Bekakak traditional ceremony. The data collection techniques in this study consist of interviews, observations, and documentation. Data analysis in the study consists of several steps (i.e., data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawn) as well as source triangulation and triangulation techniques to ensure the validity of the research data. This study finds a food communication model that strengthens the cultural identity of Saparan Bekakak as a noble tradition of the Indonesian nation. Food in the tradition of saparan bekakak is interpreted as a form of gratitude blessings, a medium of communication with ancestors for safety, cultural enlightenment, and strengthening solidarity/togetherness. There are variations and shifts in the meaning of food in the Saparan Bekakak tradition, encouraging the negotiation of meaning, which catalyses the renewal and strengthening of identity. Culture. This research's implications or theoretical impact are in the form of theoretical contributions about food communication that can construct and strengthen cultural identity and practically in the form of food communication models that can be applied to enhance cultural identity, especially in the Saparan Bekakak tradition.