To mess in Russia has long been treated respectfully, this variety of dishes devoting proverbs and sayings, as well as using cereal as a ritual foods. So, on the occasion of the baptism of infants fed baptismal porridge. With cooking and eating a lot of cereal was associated rituals.

Then and Now

Modern man is difficult to assess how important are rituals in the life of their ancestors. Complying with all the unwritten laws and regulations keenly watched elderly women, who knew by heart all the omens and superstitions. And many such signs were related to cereals. This connection is not accidental: cereal meals accompanied mankind since ancient times, since the primitive people guessed the oven cakes from crushed seeds of wild plants.

Since then it became the basis of cereal food. Of course, related to the porridge was extremely respectful. During cooking, hostess prayed for a good harvest, or about the health of loved ones, whispered charms and tried to be in a good mood Good mood: Secrets positive . Then porridge go well for the glory - she gave great energy and health.

Porridge were associated with different signs, for example, that this food is rumored to prefer houses. To appease brownie, he put on a plate a little porridge, and then the house was peace and harmony, all the work in dispute and the kids were born strong and healthy. Porridge were related and other signs, and in different regions are different from each other. Somewhere we considered it their duty to entertain guests at least a small portion of porridge, but somewhere feared a cracked pot, who promised a poor harvest.

Over time, people's diet has changed. Please porridge lost its former popularity among the nobility, and then from it gradually began to abandon the townspeople. The longest porridge to be an important staple food for the peasants, but gradually and in the villages have become less and less to prepare dishes from cereals. Despite attempts by nutritionists to promote porridge preparing this dish is relatively rare today. Only occasionally porridge for breakfast, and - as a ritual food - in honor of the most important events in human life as birth and death rather christenings and funeral.

Christening

For Orthodox Christians christening - a real spiritual birth of man, so this day has always been special. In addition to the baptism of the baby happy parents that day certainly staged a festive meal. Dishes holiday dinner might be quite diverse depending on the capabilities of the family, but it certainly was fed porridge. And the more was the pot of porridge, the better life he promised newborn.

Christening porridge eating is not just, and fair. When put on the table a pot of steaming treat, guests began to buy the right to treat the rest of gruel. First gave money godfather (godmother), for her - all the other guests, and the last the highest total lecturing godfather. The Godfather also painted on the surface of a variety of cereals figures promise a happy life and good health of the child. Interestingly, the money is often laid directly on the porridge: porridge right after the money carried the young mother as treats and presents.

As for the happy father, he is getting any mess with "fun." Fun was the fact that the dish of salted soul (or rather, overdo), and at the same time and pepper and richly flavored with horseradish Horseradish: vigorous root   and mustard heart. Eat this porridge father had all, without reserve, although the tears welling in his eyes. Tortured fathers not just: it was thought that in this way they can better understand his wife survived the painful birth. In addition, an increased amount of salt used to drive away evil spirits who might live in the house after the birth of the baby.

Father's porridge was prepared separately, and eating out of her doing the whole idea. Others are quite different guests getting any mess - sweet, milk, delicious. This porridge "from the midwives' carried the good, no wonder her personally cook woman taking babies. Sweet porridge was eaten as whole, without a trace. The pot in which it is boiled, then broke for good luck. And in some regions, such porridge served to the table is not in the pot, and in the header of the rich fur - it promised a child in the future, good health and a good income.

Godfathers also ate porridge in a special way. Spoons they kept the convex side up. It is unlikely that such a way of eating was comfortable, but the Tradition dictates scoop porridge is so godson grew up healthy and not a slouch. And the baby soon began to run, the cross had to run fast to the river to wash the pieces of cloth out of the font.

Modern tradition

On his father's taste "evil" porridge is not particularly care - are ready to spare no salt and pepper. Sometimes cereal porridge cooked to a not milk or water, and wine. As for the sweet porridge from the attendants, midwives, it is usually brewed from buckwheat with milk. In such a mess generously added butter and honey The benefits of honey: tasty recovery That it was delicious, but the baby had promised life easy and sweet.

Today the "evil" gruel have probably no one cooks. Sweet as porridge christening in a traditional style and serves today. Cook them, of course, not midwife, and certainly not the midwife of the maternity homes, and themselves, young mothers or grandmothers kids.

For cooking porridge can be used traditional buckwheat, millet or rice cereal. It is not forbidden to add to the porridge spices or dried fruit - the main thing that the dish turned out sweet, tasty and not harmful to a nursing mother. And, of course, is not worth the guests according to ancient custom to put money directly into mush: in terms of hygiene this is not the best way to give gifts.

Maria Bykov

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