Wedding loaf: recipes, decoration, signs and traditions

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

What is the Russian wedding famous for? The splendor of the festivities, beautiful outfits, delicious treats and, of course, traditions. It makes no sense to compare modern weddings with native Russian ones held centuries ago, because the celebration has acquired a slightly different format. But some traditions have been preserved in our time.

One of them is baking a wedding loaf. Kind, bright, shrouded in home comfort and the warmth of a family hearth, this tradition will live on for many years to come. In our article, we will tell you how to bake a loaf at home and how to present it at a wedding. There are many recipes for such a dish, but even more types of decoration. Here every hostess has the opportunity to show her imagination and skill.

The wedding loaf is a symbol

The loaf prepared for the wedding symbolizes the sun, giving rise to the birth of a new family. From it, as well as from bread, it exudes homely warmth and tranquility. That is why in Russia at the wedding, in addition to the loaf, there were no cakes or other solemn sweet pastries. Only this symbol stood at the head of the festive table.

The form of serving this treat has been preserved since ancient times. The groom's parents pass it on to the young,future father-in-law and mother-in-law. In this way, they not only accept the daughter-in-law into their family, but also convey their blessing to the spouses.

History

Since ancient times, a wedding loaf was prepared at home. For baking, only wheat grain flour was used, since it was this cereal that was a symbol of happiness, fertility and we alth.

To start cooking the loaf, several obligatory actions were carried out, which were also credited with a positive effect on future baking. At first they took wheat flour, but not just like that, but 7 handfuls from 7 bags. Yes, and water was collected from 7 wells. The number 7 in Russia was assigned magical properties, believing that it was "charged" for happiness.

Baking was not started until the house was in perfect order. Only in a clean room was it allowed to bake a wedding loaf, since solemn baking was treated with respect.

Not all craftsmen or those who wish could prepare a wedding symbol. Since the loaf was intended for a new married couple, only a married woman who was in a happy marriage and had several he althy children had to bake it. In the process of kneading the dough, the woman was supposed to read prayers. Besides her, no one had the right to touch the dough, although the presence of strangers during the cooking process was not forbidden. But they were not required to assist the cook, but chants and dances to create a festive atmosphere.

The day when they started to bake a wedding loaf was considered the beginning of the wedding. From the samedough, which made festive baking, baked "cones", which served as a kind of invitation to the wedding. After their preparation, the bride carried them to those whom she wanted to see at her holiday. To accept a treat from her meant that the invitee could not fail to appear at the celebration.

When preparing a modern wedding, a loaf is ordered in pastry shops. However, this is not the best option. If there are married women in the family who are capable of baking, then why not entrust the preparation of the main symbol of the wedding to them? It will be a wonderful preservation and fulfillment of traditions.

Kind of loaves

What should be the decoration of the wedding loaf? If you stick to traditions, then it is customary to use elements of vegetation: leaves, flowers, ears. It is desirable that the plant be present in the room where the loaf is baked. It could be a sprig of viburnum - a symbol of love and fertility.

Also made loaves, decorated with hearts, swans, unusual patterns. There are wedding loaves - real works of art. Their shape remains the same - a circle, but the decorations are simply striking in their unusualness. Types of wedding loaves are the same in form, but differ in their design.

What do the decorations mean

Do not think that any sign can be on the solemn bread symbol. Each of them has its own interpretation:

1. A pigtail, which is on almost every wedding loaf, means the bride's readiness to get married. Decorate the edgesholiday bread.
2. A spike of wheat is a symbol of we alth and fertility.
3. Swans are the personification of fidelity.
4. Doves represent the bride and groom.
5. The rose is a symbol of the beauty of the bride.

Signs and traditions

Traditions of the wedding loaf also exist:

1. Only a married woman could bake a loaf, by no means a divorced woman or a widow. If she had assistants, then the total number of people in the kitchen should not have been even.
2. Baking a loaf was customary the day before the wedding, as a rule, it was Saturday.
3. Before starting work, the cook had to wash her face, wash her hands thoroughly and put on a pectoral cross.
4. As soon as a woman formed a loaf of dough, only her husband or another married man could put it in the oven.
5. As soon as the loaf reached its readiness, it was taken out of the oven and covered with a clean towel. It was not customary to show the muffin to anyone before the solemn moment.
6. The wedding loaf is given to the newlyweds after the official marriage or wedding. The father-in-law meets the mother-in-law with a loaf of newlyweds, pronouncing the words of blessing and parting words. After that, the new spouses should break off or bite off a piece, s alt and feed each other. It was believed that whoever had a larger piece of loaf would be the head of the family.
7. According to you, if the loaf is burnt during cooking, then the future spouse will be grumpy. If it turned out magnificent, then this is a good sign, indicating a rich life.newlyweds.
8. At the wedding, only the bride cuts the loaf, the groom helps her. Chopped pieces are handed out to guests.
9. Spouses should eat loaf pieces without leaving them.

How the loaf is presented to newlyweds and guests

From time immemorial, it has been established that the loaf of newlyweds is presented by the groom's parents, and his mother-in-law always keeps him. Baking is placed on a new wedding towel with special embroidery. Its presentation is accompanied by the reading of a prayer, as well as words of blessing and parting words.

First, the bride and groom try (bite off a piece of it) the wedding symbol. The rest of the loaf is divided into many pieces, which the children carry to the guests. Together with the ethics of muffin pieces, the newlyweds shared their happiness with the guests.

There is another way to divide the loaf. A large piece of bread is broken off and given to the future head of the family, usually the husband. The middle of the loaf was divided among the guests, the fried base of the loaf was distributed to the musicians and hosts of the holiday, but the decorations - leaves, flowers - were distributed to unmarried bridesmaids.

Although in some parts of the country it is not customary to distribute pieces of the symbol of family happiness to guests.

Uneaten loaf

What to do with the wedding loaf after the wedding? Of course, in ancient times it was eaten to the last crumb, because there were no other sweets on the table. But now this symbolic treat sometimes remains the next day.

The easiest way is to share the loaf among the guests. They candry the pieces and leave at home as a talisman and talisman. But newlyweds should not dry baking - this will mean that soon the marriage will crack and fall apart.

Modern non-superstitious people, despite the traditions, leave the loaf "for tomorrow" and eat it up after the wedding. Moreover, at some weddings it is not even customary to distribute pieces of loaf to guests, everything remains, as they say, in the family.

You can do it in different ways. The main thing is not to throw out pastries, but try to eat them while they are fresh.

Wedding Loaf Recipe

There are many ways to bake muffins. In principle, anyone will do, as long as it turns out tasty and beautiful. However, some try to strictly adhere to traditions. If it is decided to bake a loaf on your own for the upcoming wedding, it is better to do it according to a proven recipe.

For cooking you will need:

• Kilogram of wheat flour.
• A dozen eggs.
• 6 tablespoons of sugar.
• 20 grams dry yeast.
• 200 grams of butter.
• 250 ml milk
• Pinch of s alt.

All ingredients stored in the refrigerator (butter, milk and eggs) must first be taken out so that they raise their temperature to room temperature. The butter should melt a little.

Cooking:

1. Yeast is dissolved in milk.
2. The yolks are separated from the whites. They are mixed until smooth together with sugar and sent to milk.
3. Flour is sifted through a sieve into a deep bowl. Same waysend milk with yolks. Stirring.
4. After that, put all the other ingredients in a bowl and knead the dough thoroughly.
5. Cover it with a towel and put it in a warm place so that it rises and increases in volume.
6. After half an hour, the dough is kneaded a little and again removed to infuse.
7. When it fits and becomes suitable for baking, it is laid out on the table, a small amount is cut off to create decorations. The main part is placed on a baking sheet covered with parchment, forming a circle.
8. The cut piece is used to create decorations and place them on the main form. If they do not hold well, then you need to slightly lubricate the attachment site with water.
9. The formed wedding loaf is smeared with egg yolk and the loaf is sent to a preheated (up to 180 ° C) oven and baked for 60-90 minutes.
10. The oven should not be opened all the time while the muffin is baking, otherwise the loaf may not turn out magnificent.

The prepared wedding symbol is taken out and covered with a towel so that it "rests" a little.

Some useful tips

1. Only dry yeast is suitable for cooking, as live yeast may not have the "lift" effect that is needed.
2. Figures can be made from shortcrust pastry.
3. For decorations, you can add cocoa or food coloring.
4. The finished loaf should be well wrapped with towels or even a blanket so that it does not lose its softness and does notdried up.

Conclusion

The wedding loaf recipe presented in this article can be improved somewhat by adding various additives: raisins, candied fruits, a small amount of berries. If the loaf has never been made at home, then for a wedding it is better not to take risks and place an order in a pastry shop.