2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
No one is bigger than bread!
Having in mind this old Bulgarian proverb, on holidays the Bulgarian woman prepared a rich table and always gave the most important place to the bread.
Ritual bread accompanies the life of the Bulgarian for thousands of years. It is a staple food for Bulgarians.
The preparation of this type of bread is a mystery that is about to be lost nowadays.
Through the ages the Bulgarian woman kneaded bread for various rituals - for birth and death, for good and bad, for a holiday…
Ritual bread is prepared for St. George's Day, Trifon Zarezan, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year and others.
Ritual bread accompanies every holiday and event in the life of the Bulgarian. It hides great symbolism.
When the kneading of ritual breads a lot of desire and wishes for health and good life have been invested.
This type of bread is different from the bread that is present on the table every day. It differs in shape, method of preparation and decoration.
Kneading and the decoration of the ritual bread it cannot be done by every woman.
The most common form of ritual bread is round.
In the past, ritual breads have been kneaded with yeast. The use of freshly prepared yeast symbolizes the hope for good and bright days and a new beginning.
Ritual bread without yeast makes the connection between the two worlds. Specially separated wheat flour, still water and yeast were used for their preparation.
When kneading ritual bread ritual songs are sung. The women who kneaded the bread dressed festively.
In different regions of Bulgaria there are different rituals for the preparation of this sacred bread.
Ritual bread is also called for health, forgiveness, prosperity and others.
Photo: Vanya Georgieva
Different ornaments, patterns and figures are made on the bread from the dough depending on the occasion. The figures that are made on the ritual bread are most often grapes, a cross, sheep, goats, a house, the sun, a boat, a fish, a human figure, birds and others. No measles or figure on the ritual bread it is not accidental. They hide deep symbolism.
After the ritual bread is baked, it is smoked with incense.
The kneading of the ritual bread was aimed at achieving health for both people and livestock, increasing the family, chasing diseases and evil forces, fertility.
There are rituals not only when kneading bread, but also afterwards. The finished bread is raised high. This is done to grow the grains high. After the breaking of the ritual bread, the first piece is set aside for the Mother of God or for the spirit of the house.
In folk beliefs, bread is alive and should not be played with.
Also, bread is not placed with the crust down, it is not thrown, crumbs are not thrown on it and it is not stepped on.
Bread has been held in high esteem and respect in the past. He was sacred to the Bulgarian.
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The Magic Of The Ritual Bread
Ritual bread it is not ordinary bread. For him, the preparation begins very early, even after the harvest. Healthy grains of pure wheat or wheat are selected, which are washed very well and dried. They are ground into flour, which is stored in a clean cotton bag and used only on the days when it is necessary to knead the ritual bread.
A Brief History Of Ritual Bread
Ritual bread is bread with different types of purposes, which is baked on the occasion of calendar and family holidays. The decorations on the ritual bread have a symbolic meaning. For different types of holidays there were special decorations that have a special meaning - for example, grapes are a symbol of fertility, which is thus prayed by higher powers.
How To Make Ritual Bread
Knead bread even for everyday use, it is an exciting experience, and when done for a holiday, it is a ritual that creates a connection with the forces that govern life. That is why in the ritual bread, dedicated to one of the national holidays, there is both magic and rich symbolism.
