Who orders a loaf for a wedding. Why do you need a wedding loaf. How to serve a wedding loaf

The wedding loaf is the only tradition that has survived to this day, having undergone very little change. 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.

Traditions and signs

Any tradition, as well as 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 cake itself was prepared not only for the occasion wedding celebration, dear guests were welcomed with homemade cakes. Bread baked by the mistress of the house meant wealth. The salt shaker was a talisman against evil spirits. Such an arsenal said that the host side 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. At the meeting, the relatives of the young spouse presented the newlyweds with a special cake, thereby making it clear that they were accepting the bride into their home and would treat her like a daughter. Few people paid attention, but the shape of the pie was conceived for a reason. Round baking symbolizes the celestial body - the sun. It is it that bestows the fertility of crops, and, accordingly, well-being to people. 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. The right to knead the dough and bake the bread was a woman who was happy in her own marriage and had several children in good health. It was believed that the energy and positive attitude that the cook is endowed with are transferred to the bride and groom. Besides, Special attention was given to the decoration of the cake, where each image of the decor, fashioned from dough, had its own designation. Decorations for the loaf could be made after baking the base or from the very beginning:

the united rings speak of the conclusion of a marriage union;
a spikelet is compared with prosperity;
the image of birds speaks of mutual trust;
roses are a symbol of beauty;
viburnum symbolizes a strong union.

In past centuries, one loaf was baked for a wedding, with which young spouses were greeted. All those invited were to receive a piece of festive bread. But today glances at this question changed drastically. 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;
a married man sent a preparation of a festive cake to the oven;
a bursting loaf was considered a bad sign;
finished baking should be hidden from prying eyes;
the process of dividing the pie was placed on the shoulders of the godparents of the newlyweds;
each guest should taste a piece of the wedding loaf.

How to apply?

To begin with, it should be clarified that the holiday cake should be large. Its size and variety of decorations predict a prosperous and bright future for the newlyweds. Nowadays, of course, you can not waste time 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 the young family from the older generation, will lose its meaning.

The meeting of the newlyweds with the loaf is an ancient Russian rite. The guests who have come stand in a semicircle, leaving a large space for the bride and groom to pass. The bridegroom's mother is supposed to give the young loaf. The father, in turn, stands next to the mother and holds in his hands the icon of the Virgin or the Savior. There is a belief that before the meeting of the newlyweds, special words are said on the festive cake, thereby wishing the young family peace and goodness.

In rare cases, the groom's parents cannot be present at the celebration, so their duties are shifted to godparents or older relatives in the family.

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

In the end 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 meeting party, and the guests applaud. And after that they eat the wedding loaf according to tradition, without the help of hands.

What to replace?

In modern weddings, few people fully use the Old Slavonic script. Basically everything goes in 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 birthday 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. Custom requires you to decide who will be the master in the house. To do this, the bride and groom need to bite off the roll, each on their own, whoever has the larger piece bitten off, he has the main word in the house.
Berries with cream. The modern brides unforgettable day in their life they do not want to appear before the guests with a huge piece of bread in their mouth. Therefore, a special bowl of fruit is organized to meet the young, mainly strawberries are used. Whipped cream is placed in a small bowl. The bride and groom treat each other with berries in sweet sauce.

Chocolate. A very unusual choice to replace the 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 summer period. The main thing is to decorate beautifully and serve quickly so that the beauty does not melt in the sun.

Lambs with honey. Dessert assortment of ancient Russia. Great option for a loaf replacement. But it is important not to overdo it with honey.
Fortune cookies. By the way, it doesn't have to be just cookies. It can be cupcakes or croissants. The newlyweds are invited to close their eyes and choose the pastry they like by touch. The prediction found must be read aloud to all guests.

Watermelon. Exclusively for a summer wedding. And for late summer, otherwise celebratory event may result in general discomfort.
Coffee. This method of replacing the loaf came from England. There are two cups of brewed coffee on the tray and they are waiting for the heroes of the day.

Tequila with lime and salt. This combination is chosen by newlyweds extremely rarely. The only plus is that salt can be licked off the hand of your soulmate.
Pizza. The Italian dish is mostly chosen by young couples. Especially if Italy has become 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 can be a substitute for an unusual wedding loaf.
Milk with shortbread. Quite a pleasant combination of products, especially for children at bedtime. But some couples replace the holiday cake with such a dessert.

What to do with the loaf after the wedding?

To date, no one can say for sure how the loaf was treated after the 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 bitten by the newlyweds was taken to their home. The loaf was supposed to be eaten by a man. As they say, the more a young husband eats wedding bread, the sooner the firstborn will appear.
The remaining bread is taken by the newlyweds, dried to the state of crackers. During a period of illness or a black streak in life, it is enough to eat just one piece. Health will instantly be restored, and things will go uphill.
The loaf is divided into all guests, and each must eat his own piece.
According to Christian custom, a bitten pie 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 the heroes of the occasion. The second layer is divided into all relatives. Third tier for guests.

Well, here is the long-awaited wedding celebration. Not only young people prepare for it thoroughly, but also the parents of the bride and groom have enough worries. Ordered wedding dresses and banqueting hall, wedding rings are waiting for a 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? Haven't forgotten? Caring for him traditionally falls on their shoulders. Young people at the doorstep of the house should always be met by the mother of the groom with traditional branded pastries - a wedding loaf.

And what did it symbolize, why exactly did the loaf have such an honorable place in the celebration? Don't know yet? Then we continue to read.

Wedding loaf - traditions are always interesting

Since ancient times, the ritual baking of the Slavs for the wedding was a loaf, which was considered a symbol of prosperity, happiness, good luck. The young people bit off a piece of the presented loaf - whose was larger, according to tradition, the fate of the owner of the family awaited.

By tradition, the newlyweds bite off the loaf

Prudent girls at that time did not seek to grab a bigger 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, the priorities of some have changed, but it's a pity ...

Wedding loaf - signs you need to know

Previously, a loaf for the wedding was baked in the groom's family. For its baking, experienced married women, and led this process godmother groom. Childless, divorced and widows were not allowed to bake, who, according to signs, could contribute 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 he says. Therefore, it was always kept as a pillowcase until the very wedding feast. The observance of this rule was taken care of by a person endowed with this duty, but you yourself do not take your eyes off him. You never know ... Dividing the loaf was entrusted to people who have with the newlyweds not blood, but spiritual kinship. Godparents were considered such people.

According to signs, each guest present at the celebration had to receive a piece of the loaf and taste it, otherwise he was ranked among those who ignored this holiday. The loaf was endowed with magical powers, the guests shared 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 does not bake

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

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

Towel for a wedding loaf - you can't do without it

The loaf is presented to young people on a bright towel embroidered with roosters (a long towel). Not without reason, a rooster was chosen as a pattern on it - it marks the beginning of a new day, and for newlyweds - the beginning of a new life.

Traditionally on wedding towel rooster should be shown

It has already become traditional, but some newlyweds consider the loaf treat an outdated ritual and are looking for ways to beat everything in a new way. It is for creative couples that we have created a selection of 14 points, where we will tell you how to replace wedding bread.

1. Baguette with caviar

They say this alternative to loaf is a symbol rich life. The baguette is cut lengthwise and divided in half, generously smeared with caviar. It turns out a huge sandwich, which, for sure, all the guests of the celebration come to eat. But it is not necessary to share with them, because the young need to decide who will be the master in the house. For this, the bride and groom bite off a delicacy from different sides. Whoever ate more is the owner of the house.

A baguette can be replaced with rye bread, complementing the composition with a salt shaker.

2. Berries with cream

Towards the young people they take out a bowl with berries (most often they take strawberries) and whipped cream. Spouses treat each other, dipping ripe berries in cream.

3. White and dark chocolate

Before entering the restaurant, the newlyweds are waiting for white and dark chocolate. It will be beautiful if the couple feed each other, while the bride takes a dark tile, and the groom a light one.

4. Ice cream

Everyone's dream in the hot season! The newlyweds, melting from the heat, will immediately cheer up with ice cream. Ice cream can be beautifully decorated by pouring chocolate and strawberry jam on the balls.

5. Bagels with honey

An original meeting with bagels and honey is suitable for a folk-style wedding. It will be great if those who meet take a whole bunch of these flour products, and pour honey into a bowl.

One bagel is broken by the newly-made spouses and dipped into honey. Such a delicacy is considered a symbol of the sweet life.

As an alternative to this loaf replacement, you can take honey with water. The newlyweds feed each other with honey and drink a soft drink. By the way, water will not only quench your thirst, but will also become a symbol of the purity of relationships.

6. Fortune Cookies

As a basis, you can take not only cookies, but also muffins, croissants. To complete the effect, it is recommended for a young couple to close their eyes and draw out pastries with a prediction (or wish). The flour product is broken, and the spouses read the note aloud.

For guests who do not follow the figure, you can also offer to treat yourself to a cookie. To do this, you need to estimate in advance the number of people who want sweets and prepare many, many notes.

7. Watermelon

Juicy pieces of a large berry will be especially appreciated on summer wedding. Instead of a loaf towards the young, parents can take out a watermelon.

By the way, watermelon can be replaced with any juicy fruit, for example, pineapple or melon.

8. Coffee

Coffee connoisseurs will support the idea of meeting the newlyweds in English. Two cups of coffee are placed on the tray and the couple are treated to a fragrant drink.

For those who like to find out who is in charge in the family, you can put a cardboard heart under one cup. To whom it falls, he will lead.

9. Tequila with lime and salt

The combination of tequila and lime portends the newlyweds a stormy and bright family life. We think everyone knows how to drink tequila, the only thing for greater interaction is to lick the salt from the hand of your soulmate.

For those who are tired of tequila, we can offer whiskey with cola.

10. Pizza

A meeting with pizza will be appropriate if the wedding is youth, as well as if the Italian theme is chosen or in the spirit of American parties.

For such a hearty dish, Coca-Cola or beer is suitable as a drink.

11. Fruit on skewers

You can also replace the loaf with fruit on skewers. For lovers of sweets, fruits can be dipped in a chocolate fountain.

12. Hamburger with cola

This bread and salt replacement option is suitable for fast food lovers. Sets may be different, but the meaning is clear.

13. Milk with shortbread

The idea will appeal to those who want to remember childhood. Instead of a shortbread, you can take a pie or a bun, one ingredient remains unchanged - milk.

14. Colored jelly

Spouses will have a rainbow life who will try colored jelly instead of a loaf. The main thing to take bright colours, and pour jelly into nice shape.

Before giving up bread and salt, it is worth considering whether the relatives will take the innovation well. Especially the older generation gives this tradition great importance. But if the young people are on the same wavelength with their guests, then it remains to come up with the idea of replacing the loaf, which will be in harmony with the couple. Instead of bread, you can use anything, the main thing is to turn on your imagination. Well, or use our list!

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Loaf is a symbolic bread, which can be considered an essential attribute of a wedding celebration. Bread has always been considered a generous gift of the earth, a symbol of wealth and fertility, and a festive loaf is also real masterpiece, the epitome of craftsmanship. The form of festive bread is necessarily round, it is a symbol of the Sun. Traditionally, the loaf is decorated with branches of viburnum, ears of wheat, rye. Until now, there is a belief that the one who bites off the larger piece from the loaf will be the master in the house.

photo: Traditional wedding loaf

They baked a loaf on the eve of the wedding in the groom's house or the bride's house. This was done by the imprisoned mother of the groom and young women, who were called "loaf girls", from 3 to 7 people (the number should be dishonest). All women should be happy in marriage, have children: widows and women who were repeatedly married were not invited. The ritual began before sunset: the loaf girls were tied with a red belt, each of them brought a part of the products for the loaf. When the dough was kneaded, it was believed that one should not even talk loudly, otherwise the loaf would not rise. The loaf makers had to be professionals in their field: the dough should not have been too steep or liquid: so that the life of the young would not burst like a loaf in the oven. Such women were revered: they were presented with tablecloths, gifts, and treats. The dough was kneaded on the lid of a bowl sprinkled with flour. Often, wheat flour was used for the loaf, but it was also possible to bake from rye flour. Dough decorations were baked separately: they could be figurines of domestic animals, fruits of trees, flowers, stars, the sun, a month and other auspicious symbols.

photo: Baking a wedding loaf also has its own signs and traditions

It was believed that the larger and more beautiful the loaf, the more prosperous and better the life of a young family would be, so in some villages it was customary to bake a loaf the size of the entire table. Such a loaf was taken out on a special stretcher by 3-4 people.

After the loaf was baked and cooled, it was carried to the bride “for show”. If loaves were baked in both houses, then the parents symbolically exchanged bread. In the house of the young, the loaf was placed in the room of the newlyweds for the whole night, and in the morning the friend took it and carried it to the table, and then began to divide it among the relatives and guests gathered at the table. The first piece of loaf was given to the newlyweds: it was the middle, which was associated with family happiness and symbolized wealth. The rest of the loaf was equally divided among the guests.

In different regions, the loaf was called differently: festive bread, pie, kurnik, cookies. Magical power was attributed to this bread. In some regions of the country, it was customary to give gifts after receiving a piece of loaf.

Together with the loaf, wedding cones were also baked in the oven, which were also considered a festive attribute. Most often they were made from the same dough as the holiday bread. To do this, the dough was rolled out and cut into strips, 6-8 cm wide. The strips were cut with a knife and twisted so that the bottom of the cone remained smooth, and “petals” appeared on the other. Cones served as an "invitation" to the wedding: if modern celebration We send postcards, but before the bride and her friends walked around the village and invited guests: if a person was handed a bump, he simply could not refuse. Sometimes, instead of cones, bizarre figurines of birds were baked: larks, doves, ducks - they were distributed to young people.

photo: Wedding cones - used as a wedding invitation

Interestingly, ceremonial bread was also common in Ukraine: for example, mothers of the bride were given “chobots” or “combs” baked from dough, for the groom a pair of boots made of dough, for the father-in-law, the groom could bring a “harrow with oxen”, also baked in his house . The loaf was divided into pieces after the wedding dinner; this duty was entrusted to the headman or the witness. The sole of the loaf, in which coins were often baked, was given to musicians, and part of the loaf was left for the “Cossacks”, children and adolescents who were “beyond the threshold”.

The tradition of meeting young people with a loaf is still alive. It is customary for the groom's mother to hold the festive bread, however, it is possible for both mothers to simultaneously support the dish with the loaf.

The wedding cake and its history

The tradition of cutting the wedding cake has been around for centuries. There is an ancient belief that friendship is sealed by breaking bread: in fact, this modified tradition is embodied in the process of cutting the cake and distributing a piece to each guest. Even the shape or decoration of a cake can be symbolic: white or pink roses symbolized love, bright red flowers - passion, a cake in the form of a horseshoe - happiness, in the form of a horn - to prosperity, a pyramid or a pie - a wish to live your whole life together.

a photo: Modern tradition cutting the wedding cake

In ancient times, such a dish as "cake" did not exist, it was replaced by wedding bread. For example, in Rome, bread was baked from barley or wheat flour. It was not just divided into pieces, but broken right above the bride’s head: at the same time, each guest received his portion, and the groom collected and ate the crumbs from his beloved’s head. In England, the pie was replaced by a pile of small sweet buns, over which the young had to kiss, confirming their decision to live together in sorrow and in joy.

For the first time such a dish as "cake" appeared in the second half of the 17th century. Its author was a French confectioner who came to London on business: he attended a wedding and was surprised at how randomly and ugly the wedding cakes were piled in a heap. As a result, the shapeless pile became an elegant cake, which was called croquembush. The masterpiece consisted of cream balls, had a pyramidal shape and was decorated with sweets. After that, the custom quickly spread throughout the world and became an integral attribute of a wedding or any other celebration.

Interestingly, it was customary to bake unsweetened pies for a wedding in Ancient Russia, the filling was mostly meat. But in Asian and European countries, guests were treated to sweet pies. The first figurines of the bride and groom were made of clay in pagan times, then they began to be made edible. For a long time, the wedding cake was cut not by the newlyweds themselves, as is done now, but by a married woman with several children, an exemplary housewife from the groom's family. It was believed that she puts positive energy into the process itself and the life of the newlyweds will also be very good.

Tiered cakes, so loved by many newlyweds, appeared only in the 19th century. It is still not clear who owns the primacy in the manufacture of such a sweet masterpiece: someone is inclined to think that they were the British, others defend the position that they were Viennese culinary specialists. In any case, a start has been made. In the 20th century wedding cakes ceased to be traditionally round and pyramidal: an abundance of various shapes appeared. The most popular type of treat, when each tier is placed on a separate stand. They take out the cake at the climax of the wedding evening: by the way, you can cheat a little and cut all the tiers, except for the top one, into pieces shortly before serving - and the newlyweds have less trouble, and there is no chance of smearing wedding attire trying to cut this creamy splendor into pieces. The best upper tier, richly decorated, can remain intact - it relies on the bride and groom.

photo: Modern wedding cakes

As you can see, wedding cakes and loaves appeared a long time ago: this is not just a tradition, but rather the history of our people, which should not be forgotten.

A ruddy, lush loaf with which young people are greeted is perhaps one of the main Russian wedding traditions, the same integral attribute of a holiday, such as, for example, White dress bride. It is noteworthy that according to some versions, the term "loaf" itself has "wedding" roots: it is believed that it came from the word "cow" - that, oddly enough, in some regions the bride was called.

It is worth noting that "bread" rituals can also be found in the wedding ceremonies of other peoples. For example, ritual bread is present at Spanish marriages; after the end of the holiday, its pieces are distributed to guests. Bread and salt are essential elements of a German wedding; True, they are not on the table, but in the bride's pocket, in very small quantities, as symbols of future abundance and wealth. However, perhaps nowhere did the loaf occupy such an important place as at Slavic weddings.

"Bake, bake, loaf cheese..."

The tradition of making loaf appeared in pre-Christian Russia; its form represented the Sun, which, according to ancient legend, in the form of round wheat bread, descended to Earth to take a young family under its protection. In addition, the loaf is a symbol of fertility, abundance and wealth (remember, for example, the old proverb about someone else's loaf, which is not worth "opening your mouth").

It is no coincidence that the process of preparing such a symbolic treat required strict adherence to established rules. The so-called loaves participated in it - experienced craftswomen well versed in the art of baking. Each slip could not only spoil the taste of bread, but also become, to a certain extent, a bleak prediction. So, it was believed that if the dough turned out to be too steep, then the young would have to overcome many difficulties and sharp twists of fate. If, on the contrary, it is liquid, then the loaf can crack in the oven - the family can also split in the same way.

In addition, only married women who were necessarily happy in marriage could be loafers; it was believed that by taking part in the baking of wedding bread, they give the young a piece of their family happiness. And often these "particles" were not conditional, but quite tangible, because in many regions the loaf was prepared from products that its creators brought with them.

Before the start of the kneading, the women had to wash themselves, read a prayer, and only after that they could proceed, without exaggeration, to the sacred service: one loaf woman poured flour through a large sieve, another added baking, the third kneaded the dough. The molding of bread also required skill. Sometimes a traditional loaf consisted of two parts: viburnum berries, honey and cheese were laid out on the lower one, which were supposed to symbolize life in abundance. In other cases, 3-tiered bread was baked, signifying three generations belonging to the same clan. The most elegant part of it was the top, decorated with floral ornaments or figurines of birds; it was cut first and given to the young.

A friend had to sweep the stove and put a loaf in it - a man, a best man from the groom's retinue, and this also had a special meaning: the stove personified the mother's womb, and the shovel with which the dough was placed - masculinity; loaf in this case was considered the fruit resulting from their combination. When the bread was in the oven, real fun began in the house: dances were arranged around the bowl (the tub in which the dough for wedding bread was prepared), the loaves sang ritual songs designed to scare away evil spirits from the bread.

In some areas, the rite of baking a loaf was somewhat different. For example, in Ukraine, bread in the form of a boot was prepared especially for the future mother-in-law; the groom was supposed to present it to the mother of his chosen one in gratitude for her daughter. The new-born son-in-law gave bread in the form of a harrow or a bull to the father-in-law.

As a rule, the loaf was baked in the bride's house, but sometimes before the wedding two breads were prepared at once, after which the intermarried families exchanged them. In this case, parents met the young with one loaf, after which it was divided between two families, and the second was put on the table or carried to the groom's house, where, as a rule, the first wedding night took place. Wedding bread was baked only once - at the first marriage.

"The loaf went on oak tables ..."

Since the loaf was considered a symbol of family happiness, its presentation was also special. As today, parents greeted the young with bread after the wedding; on an embroidered towel, a loaf was held by a newly-baked mother-in-law. But the custom, common at modern weddings, of biting a loaf and determining by the size of the piece who will be the master in the house, appeared, obviously, not so long ago.

In the old days, the godparents carried the loaf to the table, and it was they who divided it not only among the young, but also among all those who gathered, who always took a piece of ritual bread with them. Moreover, the very question of headship in the family could hardly have arisen then: the head was considered a man, the only breadwinner, while a woman is a faithful friend, the keeper of the family hearth.

The most delicious bread

Today, young people, as a rule, prefer to order a loaf for their wedding day in pastry shops, rather than entrust their preparation to relatives. However, in order for the loaf to become not just traditional bread, but one of the symbols of the wedding celebration, keeping love and warmth, you can bake it yourself, especially since it is not as difficult as it seems at first glance.

The main guarantee of a rich, bright taste of wedding bread is a large number of muffins: butter, milk or cream, eggs. So, for 2 kilograms of flour you need to take a dozen eggs, 100 grams butter and 100 milliliters of milk. In milk, which needs to be slightly warmed up, dry yeast (20 grams) and a teaspoon of sugar are bred. The yolks and proteins should be separated, after which the yolks are ground with 8 tablespoons of sugar and mixed with the prepared yeast mass.

Flour, sifted through a sieve for splendor, must be poured out in a slide; a depression is made in the center of it, into which a mixture of yolks, milk, yeast and sugar is poured. Egg whites are beaten separately, they are also added to the flour, like salt (about 2 teaspoons), after which the dough is kneaded - not too steep, soft and elastic. Experienced housewives know that the dough should rise at least once, after which it should be kneaded and the loaf should be formed.

The dough is divided into two parts different size. From the larger one, you need to form a ball, put it on a baking sheet covered with baking paper and lightly moisten with water. From a smaller part, make decorations - flowers, leaves, pigtails and others; they will easily stick to the damp surface of the loaf. The decorations themselves should also be moistened, otherwise they will dry out while the loaf is parting (this process will take about an hour, the volume of bread should triple). If for the preparation of decorations not yeast, but unleavened dough is used, then you need to attach them to the base half an hour before the end of baking.

The case is small: it remains only to bake delicious wedding bread. Its surface is smeared with yolk, after which the loaf is placed on the lower level of the oven heated to 200 degrees. In order for the bread to bake evenly, after the top has browned, you should cover it with foil, while reducing the temperature to 170 degrees, at which the bread will be baked for about an hour. At the same time, it is important not to open the door, do not take out the bread, but after turning off the oven, you should let it stand inside for about 20 minutes.

You can make changes to the basic recipe if you wish. For example, bread will have a delicate honey taste if half of the sugar is replaced with honey. It will acquire a special aroma if the dough is kneaded with baked milk. You can cook a loaf with stuffing; in this case, the finished dough should be divided into three parts. The first, largest, is the base on which the filling will be laid out (berries, fruits, poppy seeds with sugar, jam, and so on); the filling is covered with the second part, and decorations are made from the third, small one.

loaf beauty

The traditional design of the loaf is plant elements: leaves, flowers, ears. Wedding bread (as, indeed, the room in which it was prepared) was necessarily decorated with baked branches of viburnum, which since ancient times was considered a symbol of love. There is an old legend about a girl who fell in love with a blacksmith who did not pay any attention to her. In desperation, the beauty decided to burn the forest in which the young man spent all his time, but in the fire she herself suffered, having lost her beauty. Only one plant remained from the once large forest - viburnum, over which the girl shed bitter tears, they gave the sweet berries a bitter taste.

In many wedding songs (for example, in the ritual lamentations of the bride at bachelorette parties), Kalinov Bridge was also mentioned, which personified the transition from a single, free life to a married one, full of both happiness and trials:

Yes, from this baenka to the burner
And there are viburnum bridges ...

And in the Belarusian tradition, solar (related to the Sun) and lunar (related to the Moon) signs were applied to wedding bread. In addition, paired decorations were often used - for example, images of a pair of swans, which, as you might guess, symbolized the young, their love and fidelity.

Today, the decoration of the loaf is devoid of its former symbolism, it has rather an aesthetic value. There are some tricks to make wedding bread really elegant and beautiful:

For the preparation of decorations, it is better to use not yeast dough, from which the loaf itself is baked, but shortbread or dumplings - they are more elastic, so they are suitable for cutting original figurines any form;

Leaves, roses, braids and other decorations will turn out clearer if you apply them to the base of the loaf not before baking, but half an hour before it ends. In order to attach them, you can use wooden skewers or egg white. An exception is a braided braid: it is better to wrap the loaf with it before putting it in the oven so that it does not blur and has a voluminous appearance.

You can select decorative elements using natural dyes- turmeric, paprika, beet juice, carrot or spinach, cocoa.

Making your own wedding loaf jewelry is not a complicated process at all. Here are some of them:

1. Spit. Three ropes of dough are used, the length of which should be twice the circumference of the bread. They need to be blinded at one end, then braid the braid in the usual way, wrap it around a loaf and secure the end with a skewer.

2. Leaves. The dough is thinly rolled out, then rhombuses are cut out of it, the edges of which are cut with a "herringbone". The veins of the "leaves" are drawn with a knife.

3. Roses. From the rolled out dough, you need to cut out several circles, then fold them in a row with a small (about 5 mm) overlap, lightly pressing the junction with your finger. Then a strip of circles needs to be rolled up and cut in the center - you get two roses, all that remains is to gently bend the petals of each of them. There is another way to make roses: a circle of dough is wrapped in a tube and wrapped in a second circle, which, in turn, is a third, and so on until a lush flower is obtained.

4. Birds. A piece of dough must be rolled into a small tourniquet, and then tied in a knot, making a wide loop. Flatten one end of the dough (symbolizing a bird's tail) and make several cuts, stretch the other end, depicting a beak and decorate on both sides with raisins - "eyes".

To be or not to be?

Until recently, almost all weddings were held according to identical scenarios, which necessarily included the ceremony of meeting young loaves. Popular today themed holidays, and on many of them the Russian tradition may look out of place. However, completely refuse to greet the newlyweds with their parents, parting words and first wishes new family from the lips of the closest people, probably still wrong. Therefore, there are many options for replacing the first bread in accordance with the theme of the holiday. Let's name just a few of them:

For lovers of frills: strawberries with cream.
. For romantics: personalized handmade chocolates.
. For lovers of extreme sports: tequila with salt and lemon.
. For an Italian-style wedding: pizza.

Those young people who do not want to give up traditions, but at the same time strive to bring some changes to the usual meeting procedure, can be offered to prepare a loaf for the holiday unusual shape(for example, in the form of a cornucopia filled with fruits), with original fillings, decorated with icing, which will symbolize the "sweet life"...

In a word, the fantasy in this matter is limitless. The main thing is to remember that a loaf is not ordinary bread, not an "on-duty" attribute, but a symbol of warmth, happiness, love and good wishes, which young people first receive as a gift, and then generously share with their guests.