All about the wedding loaf. Signs for newlyweds. Wedding loaf. Features of the wedding loaf and traditions associated with it. What can replace the traditional butter wedding cake? Who should buy a loaf for a wedding?

Well, the long-awaited wedding celebration is coming soon. Not only the young people prepare thoroughly for it, but also the parents of the bride and groom have enough worries. Wedding dresses and a banquet hall have been ordered, wedding rings are waiting for the go-ahead to “ring” the happy newlyweds, almost ready to leave.

Beautiful wedding loaf with an embroidered towel

By the way, how are things going with the groom’s parents with the loaf? Have you forgotten? Caring for him traditionally falls on their shoulders. The newlyweds should always be greeted at the doorstep by the mother of the groom with a traditional signature pastry - a wedding loaf.

What did it symbolize, why was the loaf given such an honorable place in the celebration? Don't know yet? Then continue reading.

Wedding loaf - traditions are always interesting

For a long time, the ritual baking of the Slavs for weddings was a loaf, which was considered a symbol of prosperity, happiness, and good luck. The young people took a bite out of the presented loaf one piece at a time - whose was larger, according to tradition, the fate of the owner of the family awaited.

According to tradition, the newlyweds bite off a loaf

Prudent girls at that time did not strive to grab a larger piece: they did not claim leadership, and even at that time it was unrealistic, because the male half of the family should always be the breadwinner. Now, of course, some people’s priorities have changed, but it’s a pity...

Wedding loaf - signs you need to know

Previously, a loaf of bread for a wedding was baked in the groom's family. Experienced married women were involved in its baking, and the groom's godmother supervised this process. Childless people, divorced women and widows were not allowed to bake, as they could have contributed a share of their unfortunate fate to the loaf.

Beautiful wedding loaf with swans

The loaf must be protected from the envious unkind eye, so says. Therefore, he was always kept as an assistant until the wedding feast. The person entrusted with this responsibility took care of the observance of this rule, but do not take your eyes off it yourself. You never know... Dividing the loaf was entrusted to people who had a spiritual, rather than blood, relationship with the newlyweds. Godparents were considered such people.

According to signs, every guest present at the celebration was supposed to receive a piece of loaf and taste it, otherwise he was counted among those who ignored this holiday. The loaf was endowed with magical powers, the guests divided their piece of the house among all family members, they even took it on the road, as they believed that it had positive energy and would protect the traveler from adversity.

Where to order a wedding loaf for someone who doesn’t bake

The wedding loaf was usually baked in the groom's house, but now these baked goods are usually ordered from bakeries or bakeries or purchased at specialized retail outlets. You can discuss all the design details with them.

The wedding loaf is traditionally baked in the groom's family

A towel for a wedding loaf - you can’t do without it

The loaf of bread is presented to the young people on a bright towel (long towel) embroidered with roosters. It is not for nothing that a rooster was chosen as a pattern on it - it marks the beginning of a new day, and for the newlyweds - the beginning of a new life.

Traditionally, a rooster should be depicted on a wedding towel.

Which at modern celebrations can be observed or not observed as desired. One of these traditions is to welcome newlyweds with a richly decorated and delicious loaf of bread served on a specially embroidered towel. However, at different times, several opinions have emerged regarding what to do with the wedding loaf after the wedding. The bride and groom need to think about which option is closest to them.

Traditions

At modern weddings, you can increasingly find old traditions that... Some couples strive to join the culture of their people, while others follow fashion trends, but in any case, the implementation of such customs makes the celebration harmonious and memorable.

Previously, customs were determined - each participant clearly understood what to do and say. Now there is no such clear schedule for the holiday - each couple organizes their wedding as they see fit. In this regard, the observance of old traditions has become only a kind of tribute to one’s culture, but not a mandatory canon of marriage.

How bread was baked and served

A loaf is a large, most often round bread, which, according to the belief of the ancient Slavs, has magical powers. It is considered a symbol of rich life and fertility, and our ancestors associated its round shape with the sun.

According to tradition, the loaf was baked in the groom’s family, and his mother brought the baked goods to the meeting of the newlyweds after the wedding. It was the mother-in-law who had to do this, since she was the mistress of the house in which the new family member was to settle.

There were also some nuances associated with baking a loaf. Childless, unmarried women or widows were not allowed to participate in this business, since it was believed that they could pass on some of their bad luck to the newlyweds. The loaf was baked by a married relative of the groom with several strong and healthy children. In some cases, the finished dough was put into the oven by a married man with numerous offspring.

Expert advice. Be sure to place a cup of salt on top of the loaf - according to signs, it personifies wealth and prosperity.

What to do with baked goods after the celebration

At different times, there were different variations of the loaf tradition; in addition, differences were observed even within the same country, since each locality developed its own customs.

There are several main options regarding what is done with the wedding loaf after the wedding:

The bride and groom can choose for themselves what to do with the wedding loaf after the wedding, since now there are no strict framework dictated by religion. In some families, they don’t even bake the loaf by hand, but order it from the appropriate store, so there is no need to talk about strict observance of customs.

Modern interpretation of rituals

At modern weddings there is often a lot of laughter and fun, but there are very few serious and touching stages. The meeting of newlyweds is also most often made into a positive event: when newly-made spouses get from the registry office to a cafe or restaurant, after which they bite off or tear off a piece of it, preferably a larger one. It is believed that the one who retains the largest portion of the loaf will be the head of the family. Previously, such a tradition also occurred, although girls did not strive to get a larger piece, giving the right of dominance to a man.

Useful video: recipe and cooking instructions

A step-by-step recipe for preparing a delicious loaf for a wedding is presented in the video below:

The loaf was served on a hand-embroidered towel, most often with a pattern of roosters, since these birds, marking the beginning of a new day, symbolized the beginning of a new life for the newlyweds. At the wedding, about 40 types of different towels were used, and only the hospitable one did not have strict requirements regarding design - the ornament could be anything.

Where to put the salt

Previously, salt in wedding cakes was considered a symbol of prosperity, so after the wedding it was poured into a fabric bag and stored as a talisman against poverty.

What to do with the salt from the wedding loaf now? According to the latest traditions The loaf is presented with salt with the clarification that the newlyweds must annoy each other one last time in order to live in peace and harmony in their family life. In this case, the salt is eaten along with the bread. It is up to the couple to decide what is best to do.

Old traditions are good because they make a wedding more comfortable and harmonious, which is why many people strive to observe them at their celebration. Meeting young people with a loaf of bread is a touching and memorable moment, which does not require any special expenses. Therefore, in the absence of obvious contradictions, you can use this custom at your wedding without any problems, especially since you now know what to do with the wedding loaf after the celebration.

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

Traditions and signs

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

In ancient times, a loaf baked for a wedding was a symbol of blessing the new family. When they met, the young spouse's relatives presented the newlyweds with a special cake, thereby making it clear that they were welcoming the bride into their home and would treat her as a daughter. Few people paid attention, but the shape of the pie was conceived for a reason. The round pastry symbolizes the heavenly body – the sun. It is this that bestows the fertility of crops and, accordingly, prosperity to people. This kindness is at the heart of the loaf, and these good wishes are passed on to the young family by the older generation.

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

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

In past centuries, one loaf of bread was baked for a wedding, with which the young spouses were greeted. All those invited were to receive a piece of holiday bread. But today, views on this issue have changed dramatically. One loaf will not be enough, so 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 preparing 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 pie was sent to the oven by a married man;
a burst loaf was considered a bad sign;
finished baked goods should be hidden from prying eyes;
the process of dividing the pie rested on the shoulders of the godparents of the newlyweds;
Each invitee must taste a piece of the wedding loaf.

How to submit?

To begin with, it should be clarified that the holiday pie should be large. Its size and variety of decorations predict a comfortable and bright future for the newlyweds. Nowadays, of course, you don’t have to waste time baking with your own hands; the easiest way is to place an order at a bakery. But in this case, the symbolism of happiness and prosperity passed on to the young family from the older generation will lose its meaning.

Meeting newlyweds with a loaf of bread is an ancient Russian ritual. Arriving guests stand in a semicircle, leaving the bride and groom a large space to pass. The groom's mother is supposed to present the loaf to the newlyweds. 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 the newlyweds meet, special words are said on the birthday cake, thereby wishing peace and goodness to the young family.

In rare cases, the groom's parents cannot attend the celebration, so their responsibilities are transferred to godparents or older relatives in the family.

Serving the loaf on a tray is strictly prohibited. According to Russian custom, there should be no 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 surface of the ground. At the moment of the meeting of the newlyweds, the cake-carrying parent blesses the lovers, making a specially prepared welcoming speech. Not necessarily in poetic form, the main thing is to feel sincerity.

At the end of kind words, you need to say the phrase “advice and love,” which is a prerequisite. After the parents have fulfilled their roles, it is the bride and groom's turn. 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 using their hands.

What to replace it with?

In modern weddings, few people make full use of the Old Slavonic script. Basically, everything takes place in a modern style, using the traditions of ancient Rus'. 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 of bread, the groom’s mother will hold a tray with a special dessert in her hands. In fact, switching up the traditional birthday cake is considered a creative move. All that remains is to decide which dish is more suitable for this process.

Baguette with red caviar. And cut lengthwise. Caviar is laid out in the center. Custom requires deciding who will be the owner of the house. To do this, the bride and groom need to bite off a bun each from their side; the one who bites off a larger piece has the main say in the house.
Berries with cream. Modern brides on the most unforgettable day of their lives do not want to appear in front of guests with a huge piece of bread in their mouth. Therefore, to meet the newlyweds, a special bowl of fruit is organized; strawberries are mainly used. Place whipped cream in a small bowl. The bride and groom treat each other with berries in a sweet sauce.

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

Bagels with honey. Dessert platter from ancient Rus'. An excellent option for replacing a loaf. But it is important not to overdo it with honey.
Fortune cookies. By the way, it doesn’t have to be just cookies. These can be cupcakes 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 summer weddings. Moreover, for late summer, otherwise the festive event may end in general discomfort.
Coffee. This method of replacing a loaf came from England. There are two cups of brewed coffee on a tray waiting for the heroes of the occasion.

Tequila with lime and salt. This combination is chosen extremely rarely by newlyweds. The only plus is that you can lick the salt off your significant other’s hand.
Pizza. The Italian dish is mostly chosen by young couples. Especially if Italy became the theme of the wedding celebration.

Fruit on a skewer. Very tasty and elegant, especially if you dip the berries in a chocolate fountain.
Hamburger. Who would have thought, but a bun with a cutlet and vegetables could be a substitute for an extraordinary wedding loaf.
Milk with shortbread. Quite a pleasant combination of products, especially for children before bed. But some couples replace the birthday cake with this dessert.

What to do with the loaf after the wedding?

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

The bread eaten 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 wedding bread, the faster the first-born will appear.
The remaining bread is taken by the newlyweds and dried to the state of crackers. During a period of illness or a dark streak in life, it is enough to eat just one piece. Health will be restored instantly, and business will go uphill.
The loaf is divided among all guests, and everyone must eat their own piece.
According to Christian custom, the bitten pie must be taken to church as a donation.
Complex three-layer loaves were divided according to a special method. The upper part is intended for the heroes of the occasion. The second layer is divided into all relatives. The third tier is for guests.

A little history.

The loaf is a mandatory attribute of every wedding. Rich, tender, white bread. How delicious it is! That's almost all that people know about the loaf today, but in reality everything is much more serious and interesting.

Loaf is a sacred bread that has sacred meaning and, as our ancestors said, magical power. In Rus', from ancient times, bread was treated with great reverence; dear guests were greeted with bread and salt, wedding loaves were baked especially for newlyweds, and they were accompanied on long journeys with bread. Bread was considered a holy gift from Mother Earth, a symbol of fertility and wealth, and therefore always stood at the head of the table.

The tradition of making a loaf of bread with your own hands

But, let's return to the loaf. The technology for making this bread is very complex. It was believed that the baking technique and symbols decorating the loaf could influence the family life of the newlyweds. Therefore, to make life smooth and happy, bakers still adhere to old recipes and grandmother’s advice. There were a dozen stages in the traditional ritual of baking a loaf. This includes kneading dough, rolling it out, making decorations, putting it in the oven and much more. To make the loaf tasty and beautiful, it is customary to appease it, so the whole process was accompanied by ritual songs, sayings and ended with the prayer “Our Father.” Here are the words to one of the songs:

Loaf like the sun clears,

There is wheat in it from seven fields,

There is water from seven springs,

From seven cartloads of salt,

Oil from seven barrels,

Honey made from ardent bees!

We'll bake a loaf of bread,

There will be grief no matter

The years will last a long time,

Children will be born in them,

They will live and live,

Happiness, joy of making money!

Signs.

According to the signs, an odd number of people, preferably seven, had to bake the loaf. Decent, wise, happily married women with a smart husband, many children and a full family were allowed to take part in this honorable mission, since it was believed that bakers passed on their destiny to the newlyweds. Before preparing the dough, women washed their faces, washed their hands, tied a white scarf on their heads and always put on a cross. But a healthy man had to put the loaf into the oven so that the loaf would grow big and beautiful, because the larger the loaf, the more friendly and happy the newly-made family will be. We baked the loaf on Friday so it could sit and cool for the wedding.

Decoration.

They decorated the loaf too, not anyhow. Each flower, leaf and curl carried certain information. For example, ears of wheat are symbols of prosperity, rings, the sun and the month, a pair of swans are symbols of fidelity in love. The finished loaf was tied with a red ribbon and decorated with a wreath of viburnum bunches, also a symbol of love. An obligatory addition to the loaf was an embroidered loaf towel, on which the loaf was placed.

Fortune telling.

They also guessed from the loaf: if it is very browned, then life will be hot (grumpy); looked at whose ring on the loaf was more browned, that one had a peppery character; If someone’s ring on a loaf of bread is cracked, then one should be wary of illness. The ideal loaf should be round, tall, lower at the edges and higher towards the middle, evenly browned, with smooth decorations on it. A salt shaker with salt was inserted into the middle of the loaf.

How the loaf was divided.

Previously, each newlywed couple had their own loaf. The bride and her family left her father's house, and the groom's parents met the newlyweds with their loaf of bread on the threshold of their house. Then these loaves were broken, the tops were given to the young, the middles were given to guests, and the bottom, or as the sole is also called, was given to the musicians. Coins were placed in the bottom of the loaf while baking, so that the newlyweds would always have wealth in the house. The loaf was not cut, but rather broken, so as not to cut into the happy fate of the newlyweds.

When they broke the loaf at the wedding they said the following words:

Figure it out, loaf,

From the green stretch,

From red viburnum,

From the green barnberry,

On a clean plate,

White tablecloth!

Maiden and melon.

A distinctive feature of the bride’s loaf was “girlishness”. Maiden's clothes are symbols of the bride's farewell to girlhood. Married women craftswomen made flowers from paper and baked melons - lush buns in the shape of doves. Then they wrapped the dough around the reed stalk and, since these sticks did not fit in the oven, they baked them over the fire. The product began to smell like smoke, hence the name. Pre-prepared flowers and doves were attached to the tops of the finished stems and placed on the bride's loaf. There were as many of these sticks as the bride was old; she gave them to her unmarried girlfriends.

Loaf today.

Now the attitude towards the loaf has changed a little, much has been forgotten, but fortunately not all is lost. As before, today parents order a loaf of bread for their children’s wedding, meet the newlyweds with it at the door of their house or restaurant, and treat their guests to it. According to tradition, there are some parting words that parents say to newlyweds when they greet them at the door:

We want to offer the holy loaf,

And say a word of greeting!

We give a shrine

Both daughter and son!

Now break off a piece for yourself,

Eat it, son,

And try it, daughter!

Let this bread be the guarantee of health,

The key to years filled with joy!

You will, daughter-in-law, be loved by your mother-in-law,

Many victories await you, son!

Love each other and respect us,

Raise your kids without worries!

And this piece of holy loaf,

May he bless you and lead you to happiness!

After these words, the newlyweds bow three times to their parents and kiss the loaf. Then they break off a piece of the loaf, salt it and feed it to each other, and the parents say: “So you have annoyed each other once and for the rest of your life.” Newlyweds also like to see whoever breaks off the largest piece will be the head of the family.

Innings.

They cut the loaf and treat it to the guests after the ceremony of covering the newlyweds. Since there is a lot of different food at a wedding, guests usually take the loaf home, so to prevent it from breaking or crumbling, when preparing for the wedding you need to think about bags or paper boxes.

The bride and groom eat their piece of loaf the day after the wedding, already in the status of husband and wife.

Wedding cones.

They also bake wedding cones for weddings. These are small buns that are given to guests as a thank you for their gifts. The tradition of baking cones comes from the tradition of baking loaves. Previously, when women baked a wedding loaf, they baked small buns for their children from the leftover dough. Then they liked these buns so much that they began to purposefully bake them for guests. They say that you must eat both the loaf and the cone so that the newlyweds have many children and happiness does not leave the house.

As you can see, the loaf is truly a shrine, which contains a lot of symbols of love and prosperity that enter the house with the newlyweds. And also, please note, do not confuse a loaf and a wedding cake: these products are needed independently of each other.

Instructions

Many are willing to argue that the tradition of the wedding loaf is originally Russian, since there are references to the loaf in the culture of other countries. Similar traditions took place in Europe and even in Ancient China. Baking had various forms, and rituals associated with wedding bread were also very diverse. In ancient Rome, for example, they threw bread cakes at the bride. Then the rituals were simplified, changed and acquired a folk flavor, nevertheless remaining in the history of different peoples. The same Europeans, for example, moved from bread to beautiful wedding cakes.

No matter how different wedding traditions may be, they all have one thing in common - symbolism and a special ritual. The wedding loaf, as everyone knows it now, has its origins in Slavic communities. Of course, the ritual that has survived to this day has been greatly simplified. The loaf is ordered from the bakery, then the newlyweds break off a piece of it to determine who is in charge in the family. Some even fanatically eat the contents of the salt shaker in order to live the rest of their lives without worries and sorrows.

However, our ancestors acted completely differently. Everything connected with bread and salt had its own meaning. The very shape of the loaf, naturally, symbolizes the sun, the quintessence of life. The larger and more magnificent the loaf, the happier and richer the life of the new family will be. The whole world baked bread - they took a handful of flour from seven housewives, and drew water from seven different wells. This was entrusted to a woman living in a happy marriage, so that she would “charge” the loaf with positive energy and at the same time share her experience with the future owner.

The loaf of bread carefully kneaded the dough, gave it shape and charmed it like a talisman. Bread was traditionally baked in the groom's house. A man, my friend, had to put it in the oven. This was supposed to promise the young people numerous and strong offspring. To ward off evil spirits from the loaf, the married lady and the groom's friend were not called by name. The loaf turned out to be large and fluffy. They say that in order to remove such bread from the oven, it was necessary to disassemble it.

They began to decorate the loaf later, but each decoration had its own meaning. Thus, they wished the young people love, prosperity, many children, health, etc. Depending on how wealthy the families of the bride and groom were, small coins could be baked into the loaf. A man also helped bring the loaf to the table. The breaking of bread symbolized that the bride now completely belonged to her husband, and the first piece eaten was the birth of a new life in her. Then each guest was given a piece of loaf. According to tradition, they took it with them and divided it among all household members. This promised everyone who tasted the wedding bread health and good luck. This wonderful custom has almost faded from memory, turning into a formal ceremony, the meaning of which few people understand. But, I want to believe that even now, a loaf, round like the sun, illuminates the newlyweds’ steeply salted path to love and harmony.