Easter bread: Difference between revisions

In many European countries, particularly in [[Central and Eastern Europe]], there are various traditions surrounding the use of '''bread''' during the [[Easter]] holidays. Traditionally the practice of eating Easter bread or sweetened "communion" bread traces its origin back to [[Byzantium]], [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholicism]] and the [[OrthodoxEastern ChristianOrthodox Church|Orthodox Christian church]]. The recipe for sweetened or "honey-leavened" bread may date back as far as the Homeric Greek period based on anecdotal evidence from classical texts.

A ''[[Kozunak]]'' is the traditional Easter bread in Bulgaria, ''[[kulich]]'' is one of different traditional Russian ''[[Paska (bread)|paska]]'' Easter breads. ''[[Kolach (bread)|Kolach]]'' is a traditional Czech bread made at Christmas in the shape of a ring. Usually, three rings are stack on top of each other to represent the Holy Trinity. Ukrainian Easter breads are also called ''paska[[Paska (bread)|Paska]]'', where often a rich, white bread is served and decorated on the top with symbols, including crosses, flowers, braids, wheat, or other designs representing aspects of Orthodox and Eastern Catholic faith.

Romania and Moldova also have a traditional Easter pastry called [[Pască]] (Thethe term ''Pasca'' is "Easter" in the Eastern Orthodox faith, similar to ''[[Pâques]]'' in French. It is derived from the Hebrew ''pesah''). The Romanian Pască is made with cheese (and may also include fruits, nuts, or chocolate for decoration). It is usually found alongside another traditional sweet bread which Romanians make for Easter and Christmas called ''[[Cozonac]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pasca–Romanian Easter Bread with Cheese and fruits|url=http://www.uoeonline.com/understanding-our-environment/335/news/pasca-romanian-easter-bread-with-cheese-and-fruits/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917182750/http://www.uoeonline.com/understanding-our-environment/335/news/pasca-romanian-easter-bread-with-cheese-and-fruits/|archive-date=2012-09-17}}</ref>

''Syrnyk'' is a quickbread with cheese (similar to a [[cheesecake]]) that in RussianUkrainian Orthodox culture is often included in Easter food baskets which are taken to church to be blessed on Easter along with ham, sausages, relishes, chocolate, cheeses and other foods that were forbidden during Great Lent. The [[quickbread]] dough is made with eggs and butter, cottage cheese, cream cheese, honey, walnuts, almonds, candied orange peel, cream and cinnamon.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fieldhouse |first=Paul |title=The World Religions Cookbook |publisher=Greenwood Press |page=85}}</ref>

{{mainMain|Easter in Poland}}

''Baba'' or ''babka'' is a Polish cake made for [[Easter Sunday]],<ref name="Davidson 2014">{{cite book|first1=Alan|last1=Davidson|title=The Oxford Companion to Food|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bIIeBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA50|publisher=OUP Oxford|date=21 August 2014|isbn=978-0-19-104072-6|via=Google Books}}</ref> but it is not to be confused with the Polish-Jewish [[babka]] bread. A traditional ''babka'' is tall and cylindrical, often baked in [[bundt cake|bundt]]-type pan. It frequently contains raisins, [[succade]], or [[orangeat]], and may be iced on top. It is also made in the western parts of Belarus and Ukraine and is much sweeter than a ''paska''.

{{mainMain|Easter in Italy}}

=== Penia ===

=== Pizza di Pasqua ===

The ''[[pizza di Pasqua]]'' ("{{literally|Easter Pizza" in English}}) is a [[leaven]]ed savory cake typical of some areas [[central Italy]], based on [[wheat flour]], eggs, [[pecorino]] and [[parmesan]], traditionally served at breakfast on [[Easter]] morning, or as an appetizer during Easter lunch, accompanied by blessed [[boiled egg]]s, [[ciauscolo]] and red wine <ref name= AIFB>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aifb.it/cucina-delle-feste/la-cucina-delle-feste-la-crescia-di-formaggio-storia-e-ricette/|publisher=AIFB - Associazione italiana food blogger|title= La cucina delle feste: la crescia di formaggio|date=11 April 2014 |access-date=9 May 2019|language=it}}</ref> or, again, served at the [[Easter Monday]] picnic. Having the same shape as [[panettone]], the pizza di pasqua with cheese is a typical product of the [[Marche]] region, but also [[Umbria]]n (where, as a traditional food product, it obtained the [[Prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale|P.A.T.PAT]] recognition). There is also a sweet variant, with [[candied fruit]]s or without, sugar and a ''fiocca'', that is a [[meringue]] [[Glaze (cooking technique)|glaze]] with sugar beads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.assisinews.it/ricette/torta-di-pasqua-dolce-pizza-umbra/|title=Torta di Pasqua dolce: la ricetta tipica della 'pizza' della colazione pasquale umbra|date=14 April 2019|publisher=assisi news|access-date=8 May 2019|language=it}}</ref>

In [[Sardinia|Sardinia]], Italy]], bread is a part of a wide social context. It is the most important food in Sardinia, as well as all over Italy and the [[Mediterranean]]. "Bread is a nexus of economic, political, aesthetic, social, symbolic, and health concerns".<ref name=Counihan99>Counihan, Carole. The Anthropology of Food and Body: Gender, Meaning, and Power. New York: Routledge, 1999</ref>{{rp|29}} Bread is symbolic for life. A peasant proverb mentions, "Chie hat pane mai non morit&nbsp;— one who has bread never dies".<ref name=Counihan99/>{{rp|29}} The Easter holiday is one where bread brings itself into the symbolic realm. Bread is significant for religious purposes. Luisa Fois described bread in her life after she was married and for the Easter holiday. The bread was made into a cross to represent the crucifixion of [[Jesus Christ]]. Since they were married, they needed to eat it together. They would share their lives now, and they must share their "cross" together (their life's burden) as well. "Bread was a product of their union, and its shared consumption reaffirmed their interdependence".<ref name=Counihan99/>{{rp|30}} From this we gather that bread also displays a message, rather than being an item purely for consumption and nutritional purposes. Two kinds of Easter bread are described in Counihans article. One contained two points, and an egg covered with a cross. "The egg and the points that recall birds in flight speak of fertility, sexuality, and procreation&nbsp;— basic themes in Easter and its pagan precursors".<ref name=Counihan99/>{{rp|41}} The second bread was designed to have no overall shape, but was rather baked to encircle an egg, with the initials ''BP'' put on it. The initials ''BP'' stand for ''buona Pasqua'' or "happy Easter". "Letters rather than forms express meaning. Letters are symbolic of civilization and ... meaning".<ref name=Counihan99/>{{rp|41}}

== Types ==

{{reflistReflist}}

* [http://www.worldandihomeschool.com/public_articles/1999/april/wis17887.asp Breads for Christ: European Easter Breads Shaped for the Season] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928135205/http://www.worldandihomeschool.com/public_articles/1999/april/wis17887.asp |date=2007-09-28 }}

* [http://goodfood.uktv.co.uk/recipe/easter-bread-twist/ Easter bread recipe]

* [https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2009/04/babka-trans-atlantic-jewish-delight/716/ A 2009 article about the origin of chocolate babka. Ari Weinzweig, "Babka, Trans-Atlantic Jewish Delight" ''The Atlantic''. April 30, 2009]