Loaf for a wedding: traditions, signs and advice to young people

The wedding loaf is the only tradition that has survived to this day, having undergone very little changes. This is not just a cake, it is a real symbol of love, warmth and tenderness. According to custom, representatives of the older generation bestow these benefits on a young family.

Any tradition, like any custom, has its own amazing history. For example, a wedding loaf. In fact, the true name of this rite is "bread and salt". The pie itself was prepared not only on the occasion of the wedding celebration, the invited dear guests were greeted with homemade cakes. The bread baked by the hostess of the house meant wealth. A salt cellar with salt was a talisman against evil spirits. Such an arsenal said that the receiving party asks for God's mercy for its guests.

In ancient times, a loaf baked for a wedding was a symbol of the blessing of a new family. When they met, the relatives of the young spouse presented the newlyweds with a special cake, thereby making it clear that they were taking the bride into their home and would treat her like a daughter. Few paid attention, but the shape of the cake was conceived for a reason. Round pastries symbolize the heavenly body - the sun. It is it that bestows the fertility of crops, and people, accordingly, well-being. This kindness lies at the heart of the loaf, and these good wishes are passed on to the young family by the older generation.

In Russia, even the preparation of a wedding loaf proceeded according to custom. A woman who is happy in her own marriage and had several children with excellent health had the right to knead dough and bake bread. It was believed that the energy and positive attitude that the cook is endowed with are transmitted to the bride and groom.In addition, special attention was paid to decorating the cake, where each image of the decor, sculpted from dough, had its own designation. Decorations for the loaf could be done after baking the base or from the very beginning:

• united rings speak of the conclusion of a marriage union;
• a spikelet is compared to wealth;
• the image of birds speaks of mutual trust;
• roses are a symbol of beauty;
• viburnum symbolizes a lasting union.

In past centuries, one loaf was baked for a wedding, with which they greeted the young spouses. All those invited were to receive a slice of the festive bread. But today the views on this issue have changed dramatically. One loaf will not be enough, so the custom allows you to bake two pies for the event. This is especially true for weddings. It should be noted: in the old days, people always paid attention to signs. Even the process of making a loaf was treated as something sacred:

• water and flour for cooking had to be taken from seven different containers;
• the preparation of the holiday cake was sent to the stove by a married man;
• a bursting loaf was considered a bad sign;
• finished baked goods should be hidden from prying eyes;
• the process of dividing the pie was entrusted to the godparents of the newlyweds;
• each invitee should taste a piece of the wedding loaf.

First, it should be clarified that the holiday cake should be large. Its size and variety of decorations predict a comfortable and bright future for newlyweds. Nowadays, of course, you can not waste time on baking with your own hands, the easiest way is to place an order in a bakery. But in this case, the symbolism of happiness and well-being transmitted to a young family from the older generation will lose its meaning.

The meeting of the newlyweds with a loaf is an ancient Russian rite. The guests who come stand in a semicircle, leaving the groom and the bride a large space for the passage. The groom's mother is supposed to hand over the loaf to the young. The father, in turn, stands next to the mother and holds in his hands an icon of the Mother of God or the Savior. There is a belief that before meeting the newlyweds, special words are spoken for a festive cake, thereby wishing the young family peace and good.

Serving a loaf on a tray is strictly prohibited. According to Russian custom, there should not be any stand. The baked bread is placed on a towel, and a salt shaker filled with salt is placed on top of it. It is important to know that the towel, that is, the towel, should be long, but not in contact with the ground. At the moment of the meeting of the young, the parent carrying the cake blesses the lovers, giving a specially prepared welcome speech. Not necessarily in a poetic form, the main thing is to feel sincerity.

At the end of kind words, it is required to say the phrase "advice and love", which is a prerequisite. After the parents have fulfilled their roles, it is the turn of the bride and groom. As a sign of gratitude and respect, the newlyweds bow to the welcoming party, and the guests applaud. And after that they eat the wedding loaf according to tradition, without the help of hands.

In modern weddings, few people make full use of the Old Church Slavonic script. Basically, everything takes place in a modern style, using the traditions of ancient Russia. That is why it is believed that the meeting of the newlyweds can take place near the entrance to the restaurant, and instead of a loaf, the groom's mother will hold a tray with a special dessert in her hands. In fact, replacing the traditional holiday cake is considered a creative move. It remains only to decide which dish is more suitable for this process.

• Baguette with red caviar. And cut along. Caviar is laid out in the center. The custom requires you to decide who will be the owner of the house.To do this, the bride and groom need to bite off a roll, each from their side, who has a larger bite, he has the main word in the house.
• Berries with cream. Modern brides on the most unforgettable day in their lives do not want to appear in front of guests with a huge piece of bread in their mouths. Therefore, for the meeting of the young, a special bowl of fruit is organized, mainly strawberries are used. Place the whipped cream in a small bowl. The bride and groom treat each other with berries in sweet gravy.

• Chocolate. A very unusual choice for replacing a loaf. But it looks very original. For contrast, the bride will treat her spouse with dark tiles, while the groom will choose a white piece.
• Ice cream. Not a bad way to replace, especially during the summer. The main thing is to decorate beautifully and quickly serve so that the beauty does not melt in the sun.

• Bagels with honey. Dessert platter of ancient Russia. An excellent option for replacing the loaf. But it's important not to overdo it with honey.
• Fortune cookies. By the way, not necessarily just cookies. It can be muffins or croissants. The newlyweds are invited to close their eyes and choose the pastries they like by touch. The prediction found must be read aloud to all guests.

• Watermelon. Exclusively for a summer wedding. Moreover, for late summer, otherwise the festive event may end in general discomfort.
• Coffee. This way of replacing the loaf came from England. There are two cups of brewed coffee on a tray awaiting the heroes of the occasion.

• Tequila with lime and salt. This combination is rarely chosen by newlyweds. The only plus is that the salt can be licked off the hand of your other half.
• Pizza. The Italian dish is mostly chosen by young couples. Especially if Italy has become the theme of a wedding celebration.

• Fruit on a skewer. Very tasty and delicious, especially if you dip the berries in a chocolate fountain.
• Hamburger. Who would have thought, but a roll with a cutlet and vegetables can be a substitute for an extraordinary wedding loaf.
• Milk with a crust. Quite a pleasant combination of products, especially for children before bed. But with such a dessert, some couples replace the holiday cake.

Today, no one can say for sure what they did with the loaf after the wedding in the old days. Some say one thing, others another. From general opinions, there are five options for what can be done with a loaf after the wedding.

• The bread bitten by the newlyweds was taken to their home. The man was supposed to finish the loaf. As they say, the more the young husband eats the wedding bread, the sooner the firstborn will appear.
• The remaining bread is taken by the newlyweds, dried to a state of breadcrumbs. During a period of illness or a black strip in life, it is enough to eat just one piece. Health will instantly recover, and things will go uphill.
• The loaf is divided into all guests, and each must eat his own piece.
• According to Christian custom, the bitten cake must be taken to the church as a donation.
• Complex three-layer loaves were divided in a special way. The upper part is intended for heroes of the occasion. The second layer is divided into all relatives. The third tier is for guests.

A wedding loaf is not just a cake for a festive ceremony, but a whole work of art. Every housewife can bake such beauty, but few are capable of making unusual decorations. Wedding bread has a classic round shape, symbolizing the sun and warmth. The pie is decorated with a fluffy braid around the edges. On the surface there are images of swans and rings.Neat and miniature roses add a certain flavor to the overall picture.

For the design of modern wedding cakes, multi-colored decorating methods and an unconventional approach are used. In this case, the loaf is decorated with images of grape brushes. Artificial rowan twigs are used along the edges for a variety of color styles. For a large wedding, the size of the loaf should be appropriate, especially considering that each layer has its own special purpose. The decoration of this cake is made in the old Russian style. Mostly there are images of wildflowers and plants. Roses on the top layer of the loaf symbolize purity and love, which is just right for a wedding celebration.

To learn how to make a loaf for a wedding with your own hands, see the next video.