2. Bread at home
Bread is one of the oldest dishes in Lithuania and it
used from the first centuries after Christ. It was started to
produce when people didn‘t know how to farm.
In a high antiquity, bread was personalized and
deified. Already in pagan times and later, bread was
sacrificed to the goddess of fire Gabija and to the
goddess of ground Žemyna. Before Christianity times,
bread was associated with sun, fertility and
consequently with tribe prolongation.
To the beginning
3. Harvest rites
Bread was very important attribute in the harvest’s
starting and finishing rites.
The housewife used to begin to cut rye with a sickle.
After finishing rye harvest women used to plait wreathes
from the latest pocket-handkerchief and sing songs
about black poplar.
4. The Housewife used to put five ears of rye on the
table, and two grains on the plates, which have to be
eaten before meal. After the rye harvest people used to
celebrate harvest-home. This holiday lasted some weeks
with lots of meals, which was left and for souls.
To the beginning
5. Preparation of dough
There were put the modest gritty flour and
warm water into the dough of bread. It was left
warmly in a kneading-trough for about one – two
days to sour. It was thought that this process was
ostensibly controlled by the deity.
Kneading of bread was very hard work. It was
kneaded with the damp hands not to stick up. The
ready bread dough was put into the furnace, which
was prepared the night before. The bread has been
baked for 3-4 hours.
To the beginning
6. Bake customs
Bread was baked in a hearth cinder, embers, on flat
stones and in holes in many regions. The goddess of
fire Gabija took care of bread while it was left in a
furnace. Just you can‘t gasped with an open mouth and
to slame the door – the crust will rebound.
7. If anyone came round during the time of
baking the bread, they should say “Skalsu!” (long-
tasting). After that, every loaf was washed by the
housewife, it was moisten with water – the crust of the
bread is softer then. Daughters wanted to take the
baking of bread from their mothers, because to bake
your first loaf of bread is the sign of adulthood.
To the beginning
8. Stove
People used to build stoves with the help of the
neighbours. First they needed to make bakestone, where
you could put six big loaves of bread. Then to build a
wooden framework to form an arch. Stove had a place,
where you could sweep ash and coal. You could put pots
in a place, called “prieždas.” There was a place on the
top of the stove to dry grain before baking, too.
9. People wanted to finish building the stove when
the moon was decreasing, because they believed that
the stove will be durable and it won’t crack then. And the
chimney must be finished during the fool moon – the
housewife will always have things to prepare the pottage.
To the beginning
10. Prejudice
Lithuanians respected the bread very much, you can
see this in our nation's belief, customs and traditions.
There was a custom, not so long time ago – the slice of
a bread, that fell on the ground, people respectfully
raised, kissed and ate then. People thought that if they
apologized to bread, so it won’t be angry and won’t leave
the home. Children from an early age, were taught to
respect bread and not to throw it.
11. The loaf of bread, or even a little peace of it, was
considered human’s destiny, therefore bread can not
be throw away, there weren’t acceptable to leave the
uneaten piece on the table or take the last slice, if no
one offered. But if the bread was offered it was not
allowed to refuse it.
12. Information from:
Pranė Dundulienė “Duona lietuvių buityje ir papročiuose”
http://www.google.lt/imghp?hl=lt&tab=wi
http://www.azeri.lt/Duona-lietuviu-paprociuose-2353.html
Gabija Kumžaitė ir Roberta Žemaitytė 8d
To the beginning
