Za ukrajinsku tradicionalnu kulturu kruh je izuzetno važan. I nije ni čudno: tradicije povezane s uzgojem, obradom i korištenjem žitarica prirodne su za zemlju s plodnim tlom.

Paljanica

Već smo pričali o tradicionalnom kruhu zvanom paljanica. Ta je riječ postala kod i lozinka za prepoznavanje “stranaca”, jer ju je teško izgovoriti onima koji ne govore ukrajinski. Međutim, Paljanica je i ritualni i svakodnevni kruh. Ali korovaj je svadbeni kruh s bogatom tradicijom.

Svadbeni korovaj

Korovaj je velika, okrugla štruca kruha koja se uglavnom peče za vjenčanja. Korovaj se ukrašava figuricama od tijesta i poslužuje na izvezenom ritualnom ručniku (rušniku). Ritual izrade takvog kruha vrlo je drevan. 

Vjeruje se da korovaj za mladence može pripremiti samo sretno udana žena s djecom. Korovaj se ukrašava pečenim figuricama od tijesta u obliku ptica, cvijeća i grana, simbolizirajući želje za skladom i srećom u budućoj obitelji. Posebni krušni proizvodi peku se i za provodadžije, prijatelje i svadbene goste. 

Mladenci jedu svadbeni korovaj zajedno, posipajući ga solju, a njime časte i goste. U davna vremena, novčići su se pekli u donji dio štruce, a zatim su se davali glazbenicima koji su svirali na vjenčanju.

Kruh dobrodošlice

Štoviše, korovaj se koristi i u ritualu dočeka gostiju. Posluživanje bogatog, svježeg kruha simbolizira gostoljubivost i otvorenost. U međuvremenu, zajedničko kušanje kruha je ritual jedinstva. Zato tradicija dočeka gostiju “kruhom i solju” (khlib-sil) živi i danas. Prije nekoliko tjedana, stanovnici Varaždina i gosti grada mogli su probati ukrajinski korovaj, ispečen za Dan kulturne raznolikosti.

Čuvamo tradiciju za budućnost!

Ukrainian Korovai

For Ukrainian traditional culture, bread is incredibly important. It’s not surprising: traditions related to growing, processing, and using grain are natural for a country with such fertile lands.

Palyanytsia

We’ve already talked about the traditional bread called palyanytsia. This word became a code and password for identifying “outsiders,” as it’s difficult for non-Ukrainian speakers to pronounce. However, palyanytsia is both a ritual and an everyday bread. But korovai is a wedding bread with a rich tradition.

Wedding Korovai

Korovai is a large, round loaf of bread primarily baked for weddings. It’s decorated with dough figures and served on an embroidered ritual towel (rushnyk). The ritual of making this bread is very ancient. 

It’s believed that only a happily married woman with children can prepare the korovai for the newlyweds. It’s decorated with baked dough figures of birds, flowers, and branches, symbolizing wishes for harmony and happiness in the future family. Separate bread items are also baked for matchmakers, friends, and wedding guests. 

The newlyweds eat the wedding korovai together, sprinkling it with salt, and also offer it to guests. In ancient times, coins were baked into the bottom part of the loaf and then given to the musicians who played at the wedding.

Welcoming Bread

Moreover, korovai is also used in the ritual of welcoming guests. Serving rich, fresh bread symbolizes hospitality and openness. Meanwhile, sharing bread together is a unifying ritual. That’s why the tradition of greeting guests with “bread and salt” (khlib-sil) lives on to this day. A couple of weeks ago, residents of Varaždin and guests of the city could try Ukrainian korovai, baked for the Day of Cultural Diversity.

We preserve traditions for the sake of the future!