Marriage has always been the most important event in the life of every person, event to which a variety of customs, traditions, accept it. Many of these will take and customs associated with the attribute of the holiday as a wedding loaf - ornate ritual bread, which is baked for a long time the young. What is the role of the loaf in a traditional wedding ceremony?

Around the head

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of bread in the culture. Today, fresh bread rolls and loaves can be easily bought in any store, and in the old days, reigned a cult bread. This product - the result of the work of many people - was truly sacred and treated him with respect, with reverence. In hard times, the bread became precious, that he was considered a staple food, it is about how to provide for his family with bread, first of all heads of the families concerned.

In our time, the attitude to bread has changed. Nutritionists announced this product one of the main "culprits" of excess weight. Recommendations to limit the use of products made from flour widespread, and many dream of a beautiful figure, began to abandon the bread. However, the bread has not lost its sacred values. And to this day alive a variety of signs associated with grain products. For example, it is believed that the bread must not be discarded, it is unacceptable to put the cake on the table, "upside down", and can sweep away the crumbs from the table to the outstretched hand only, but not on the floor.

As a ritual meal of bread, too, it continues to be used up to now. Easter cakes Easter cakes - an ancient recipe, but checked   and bread in the form of ears, fruity Christmas bread loaf and a wedding - it's more than a grain mill products. It is a true symbol of the important events and grand festivals, the mandatory part of various rituals. Such bread is always elegantly decorated, and as ornaments used a special symbolism. Each whorl on ritual bread has its own value, each element of the decor is designed to appease a higher power, ask them certain benefits, pay homage.

Features of the wedding loaf

The custom of preparing for the wedding ritual bread was typical even for ancient Egyptian culture. Over time, the tradition passed to the Greeks and Romans, and then spread throughout the world. Prototypes wedding loaves have different nations. Usually bread prepared a circular shape and artfully decorated.

Preparation loaf was very responsible procedure, which necessarily involved the priests. Flour milled in special millstones, and test preparation to participate in a happy married women with children. It was believed that they were thus shared with his young family happiness.

Preparation of bread accompanied by ritual songs and dances, prayers and incantations. And put in the oven wedding loaf necessarily I had married man.

Particular attention was paid to the decor of bread. Rings symbolize marriage, the pair of swans - loyalty, ears - prosperity, viburnum twigs - love and many children.

The luxuriantly obtained loaf, the better life promised he newlyweds. Ritual bread carried on embroidered towel - rushnyk. Godfather of the bride or groom's gifts to the newlyweds first loaf (of bread they were supposed to tip), and then the visitors. Bottom of the loaf, which is often baked coin "for luck" getting any musicians at the wedding. So the couple symbolically shared their happiness with the guests, the guests also in response portrayed the young gifts.

Wedding loaf today

Nowadays, wedding loaf is a mandatory attribute of a traditional wedding celebration. Most of the rituals of preparing ceremonial bread is no longer respected, and the old recipes loaves already lost. Usually loaves are baked to order: naturally, the couple can hardly control who knead the dough for their bread ritual - happy family life a woman or a soulless machine.

If you wish, you can prepare yourself a loaf, given all the old rules of the ritual of baking bread. Many believe that the dough retains the power of the person who is knead the dough. Although it is impossible to prove, it is likely that a loaf prepared with loving hands really bring a young family happiness.

Traditionally, the groom's parents to loaf met the bride on his doorstep. Today, this practice is not always seem appropriate. Firstly, modern men often lead young women to his home than in the parent. Secondly, the welcoming ceremony the bride at the entrance of an apartment building is highly questionable in terms of both convenience and aesthetics. If the groom's parents live in a private home, meeting with young bread and salt will be a beautiful part of a wedding celebration.

Signs associated with the wedding loaf

Properly prepared, served and eaten the wedding loaf - a pledge of a happy family life. Like it or not, every couple can find themselves. With the wedding a loaf is due to take quite a few:

• The bride should not loaf oven yourself. It is better to entrust the preparation of bread happy married women with children, in any case, not a widow. This may be the mother of the bride or the groom;
• Bride and groom hands break off pieces from the top of the loaf. And one of the young break off a piece of a larger, he will be head of the family;
• The remains of the loaf can be cut with a knife or break into pieces and distribute to guests. It is desirable that a child does;
• To refuse a piece of wedding loaf is not accepted: it is disrespectful to the young;
• Ornaments of wedding loaf bring marital happiness unmarried girls.

Maria Bykov

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