Traditional wedding cake
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It's hard to imagine a wedding feast without such an important attribute as a wedding cake! The memories of each couple will forever remain the moment when they, as husband and wife, together cut this magnificent splendor and treat guests and each other.
Roman "cake"
The tradition of cutting a wedding cake originates in the Roman Empire. It’s hard to imagine, but she’s over 5,000 years old! At that time, however, it was not cakes that were relevant, but wedding bread, barley or wheat. The groom was supposed to break the festive bread above the bride’s head, and then give the guests a piece, as if inviting to share their happiness. Bread crumbs left on the bride’s head, the groom had to collect and eat with his chosen one. This custom symbolized the submission of the wife to her husband. There was a similar custom in Scotland, but there was oat bread. A napkin was placed on the bride’s head, and a basket of bread was placed on top. It is hard to compare it with today's works of culinary art, because in form it was just a thin cake. Although, of course, it was more important that he symbolized, and not his external or internal decoration.
Wedding loaves in Ancient Russia
In our lands, the prototype of wedding cakes was a wedding loaf. Here the approach to the event was more serious, because even several people were involved in preparing the loaf. Only a married woman kneaded the dough, a man made pastries, a child was entrusted with slicing, and only a matchmaker could distribute slices to guests. All this action took place under special chants performed by "loafers". The newlyweds were the first to touch the loaf with their faces and cry, this had to be done before the sacred wedding ritual. According to tradition, the loaf should be decorated with patterns and viburnum.
First wedding cake
In the Middle Ages in England, wedding cakes and loaves were not used in wedding traditions. In front of the young, small buns were laid out in a heap. In order for the future family life to be happy and large, a young couple had to kiss on buns. And only in the 19th century was the beginning of such a tradition as a wedding cake. The creator of this creation, made in the form of a dome of the church, was a grocer named Bob Smith. Time passes, everything changes, and what bizarre forms modern wedding "breads" did not take. This custom has taken root throughout the world, but there is nothing eternal. Curious how a wedding cake will look in a couple of hundred years?