From collard greens to mac and cheese, and even sweet potatoes, the flavors and traditions behind Black holiday meals are passed down through generations. But could we be losing recipes?

For many people of Latino communities, the holiday season means tamales. But this is more than a savory holiday dish, it’s at the heart of history and culture for millions of families. The 21st talked about it with a lecturer in the Department of Latina/Latino Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.