Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-01-09
THU CITIZEN.
THE LOAF OF BREAD.
sUPERsTiTIONS OF MANY LANDS CON-
NECTED THEREWlTH.

Origin of the signing of the cross-whAt
a Crack Across the Loaf AIeans-The oven
Sacred object-Omens Relating to
Birth, Marriage and Death.
One morning last summer, when
was spending a few days at farm
house in eastern Ohio, the good house
wife showed that she was troubled.
Naturally l inquired the cause. "Oh,
she said, "I'm afraid something dread
ful will happen. This morning l put
batch of bread into the oven, and all the
loayes except one cracked across the
top"
What if they didf" 1 replied in
tones Of curiosity.
Don't You know" she said, with an
air of surprise, ''that when bread cracks
across the top it means misfortune TO
some one in the family? 1 would not
have had it happen for the world. "
AS left few days after this mishap
to the bread never learned whether the
sign was a true omen or not. However,
the housewife had contributed to my
stock Of information and had given me
nm item Of folk at led to further
investigation.
One of my German friends tells me
that in many parts Of b. native country
the housewife still ewes that cracks
on the top of the df of bread indicate
the death of some one in the household,
or perhaps misfortune to dear friend,
&l,.. low gffl
bread are taken to indicate a birth.
As many Of Us know, our bakers mark
the sign Of a cross upon the dough be-
fore placing it in the oven. The reason
for making this sign becomes plain
when we know the origin of the custom.
Almost all our superstitions about bread
date back to old pagan days, though
they have been greatly modified so as to
conform to Christian beliefs. With the
ancient Romans the baking of bread
and cakes was often invested with re-
ligious significance, especially the cakes
offered TO the gods and goddesses. These
cakes were prepared in a particular way,
and after being marked with the symbol
Of the deity in whose honor they were
offered they were supposed to possess
supernatural virtues.
The old domestic practice was modl-
fed when Christianity became trium-
phant, and in place of a pagan symbol
the early Christian housewife not only
used to make the sign of the cross when
she began to knead the dough, but she
marked that sign upon her loaf before
placing it in the oven. Why? Simply
because the sign of the cross is the rec
ognized Christian protecting mark
against the attacks of evil spirits, witches
and the like. Hence bread marked with
the cross is supposed to be witchproof,
will bake all right, not crack across the
top, etc.
Just as the Jews have passover cakes
and other peoples have had specially
prepared food for their religious festi-
walls. so the Christians have cakes for
certain seasons. Our hot cross buns on
Good Friday are simply modern repre-
sentatiyes of the cakes used at some old
pagan festival. In days gone by the
cakes and buns baked at Easter were
supposed to possess great virtues. Thus
it is an old belief that the observance
Of eating cross buns on Good Friday in
sures, so to speak, the house from fire
for the coming year.
In truth, to study the superstitions
about bread is to take wide lesson III
folklore. These superstitions relate to
the kneading trough, the oven, bakers
and bread For instance, III many parts
Of France the archie, or kneading trough,
is more than a rude kitchen utensil. 1t
=, HI of furnIfnTa Nj
Sebillot, who has collected many of the
superstitions of tho French folk relative
to bread, quotes the story of thief who
entered the window of house with in
tent to commit burglary, but refused to
step on the trough still containing the
dough, believing that to do so would be
an impiety.
A writer in one of the recent num-
bers of an English magazine says that
in CiottIand the cross is still signed be-
fore the oven fire is lighted or the dough
kneaded This practice is very common
in the country districts all over Europe.
In Brittany the housewife makes the
sign of the cross with the right hand
while she places the left hand III the
trough. After the dough is kneaded, the
lid OF the trough IL smut, ana 50 Is tne
door, for if the cat should enter the
room the bread would not rise. Certain
charms or invocations are used TO cause
the bread to multiply itself. Thus the
peasant housewife adjures the dough to
initiate the leaven, the wheat the miller
and to rise She would be very angry If
any one should sing or whistle in the
room while she is making the loaf.
In some parts of Europe the bake oven
is almost sacred object. In certain
places Of Brittany, for example, it is
dedicated with ceremonies. The wood is
sprinkled with blessed water. The prop
er heat is attested by the melting of
bottle, and finally an egg is broken for
luck. Besides there are certain days ON
which bread must not be baked, as on
Holy Friday or during tho night of All