By tradition, Easter preparations include baking a holiday cake, as well as coloring or painting eggs. Where did such a custom come from? Why do they bake Easter cakes for Easter? History originates in ancient traditions and covers the period of the crucifixion of Christ and the life of the twelve apostles. We’ll talk about today.
Why do they bake Easter cakes for Easter?
Sitting down at the meal, the disciples of Christ left a free place for him, and a slice of bread was placed on a plate. So the custom was born to leave a piece on a specially designated table before the festive passage around the church. Then the bread was divided into small slices and distributed to the parishioners after the Easter service. Nowadays, it is customary to give alms in this way. However, the very essence is in bread. Over time, this tradition has taken root in many homes. Each hostess began to bake a similar round bread in honor of the holiday. That's why Easter cake is baked for Easter.
Why rich?
It was customary to make products only from butter dough, since during life Jesus and his disciples ate bread cakes from exclusively unleavened dough, and after the Resurrection, from yeast. That is why Easter cakes are baked sweet and rich on Easter. Their shape of a cylinder of various heights was also not chosen by chance. According to legend, the shroud of the Savior was just that. This is another reason why it is customary to bake Easter cakes on Easter. They symbolize the beginning of a new path, rebirth, but most importantly - the victory of life over death.
How to bake Easter cakes in a special way?
Having figured out why it is customary to bake Easter cakes at Easter, we need to touch on the topic of how to do this and why. The preparation of the Easter cake should begin with a calm and clean heart, bright thoughts and hope in the soul. Such energy will breathe life into the product, and then it will go to everyone who tries it. It is advisable to knead the dough by reading a prayer and talking with the Almighty. Baking Easter cake - this is not the time for haste and fuss.
The mistress must be in a peaceful state, and silence reign in the house. Baking should be done on Clean Thursday, after putting things in order in the home. Properly prepared Easter cake will be stored for more than a week and not even stale. Therefore, one should take into account all the subtleties of this sacrament. After all, according to the legends, what kind of Easter cake will turn out, that will be the year until the next Easter. There are also many signs associated with holiday baking. That is why Easter cakes are baked on Easter with special zeal and diligence.
Colored eggs
Another interesting fact concerns the second festive attribute, namely, eggs. They decorate baskets and tables, bringing color diversity to the usual serving. Why are Easter cakes and eggs painted on Easter ? There are several origins. One of them sounds like this. During Lent, people excluded all animal products from the diet. But, for example, the hens rushed from it no less, so the eggs had to be put somewhere. The owners came up with a way to save - just cook them. And in order not to be confused with fresh ones, and not accidentally eat lodged ones, it was customary to dye these eggs.
The story of the gift
Another version tells the story of the gift of Mary Magdalene to the Roman emperor. Coming with the bright news of the resurrection, the woman presented Tiberius with an egg. Such was the custom, in those days it was impossible to come to chambers empty-handed. The emperor did not believe that anyone was able to rise from the dead. As in the fact that the eggs can be of a different color than white. And at that very moment the gift became scarlet. According to the second version, as a young mother, Mary decorated eggs to amuse the baby Jesus.
Colors and Eggs
From that moment, the eggs began to be painted first in scarlet color, since it was a symbol of Christ's blood, and everything that was under the shell was the revival of a new life. Later, instead of chicken eggs, chocolate or wooden ones were used. Scarlet and crimson colors were customary to diversify.
However, each shade had its own meaning. For example, yellow, gold and orange is a symbol of prosperity and prosperity, red - a reminder of the Lord's love for people, blue - the face of the Most Holy Theotokos, personifies hope and kindness, green expresses rebirth. The only forbidden color for coloring Easter eggs is black. It is a symbol of grief, mourning and sorrow, therefore, it is categorically not suitable for such a bright holiday.
Conclusion
Now you know why Easter cakes are baked on Easter. As you can see, there are many beliefs. All of them, of course, reflect fragments of history that are perpetuated in traditions that have survived to this day. For example, it is customary to grease Easter cake with whipped squirrels to give it a look similar to the dome of the church.