Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-06-03

It would be surprising, indeed, if
there were not many superstitions
about bread. The one indispensable
article of food is naturally in every ma
ton a favorite subject Of folk lore. No
French peasant begins a new loaf with
out crossing it with the knife. The
English superstition that bread cracked
in the baking portends misfortunes in
the family has taken root in America.
In Germany, too, the housewife still
believes that cracks on the top of the
loaf of bread indicate the death of some
one in the household, or. perhaps, mis-
fortune to a dear friend, while cracks
on the lower side of the bread are
taken to indicate a birth.
AS many of us know, our bakers
mark the sign of a cross upon the
dough before placing it in the oven.
The reason for making this sign be-
comes plain when we know the origin
of the custom. Almost all our super
stitions 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 a religious
significance, especially the cakes Of
fered 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 modi-
fed when Christianity became triumph
ant, and, in place Of 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 1t in the oven. Why?
Simply because the sign of the cross Is
the recognized Christian protecting
mark against the attacks of evil spirits,
witches and the like. Hence, bread
marked with the cross is supposed to
be witch proof, will bake all right, not
crack across the top, etc.
Just as the Jews have Passover
cakes. and other peoples have had spe-
cially prepared food for their religious
festivals. so Christians have cakes for
certain seasons. Our hot cross buns
on Good Friday are simply modern
Of the cakes used at
some old pagan festival In days gone
by, the cakes and buns baked at Eas-
ter were supposed to possess great vir-
tue. Thus, 1t Is an old belief that the
observance Of eating cross buns on
Good Friday insures, so to speak, the
house from fire for the coming year
We still eat certain kind Of pancake
OH Shrove Tuesday. The practice is
to in "Alrs Well That Ends
Well" where the clown speaks Of a
pancake for Shrove Tuesday" In
''Pericles" they are called ''flapjacks''-
a term still used in country districts.
In truth. to study the superstitions
about bread Is to take a wide lesson
In folk lore. These superstitions relate
to the kneading trough. the oven, bak-
ers and bread. For instance. in many
parts Of France the 'arche' or knead-
ing trough. is more than a rude kitchen
utensil; it is often a pretty bit of furnI-
ture NJ. Sebillot, who has collected
many of the superstitions of the
French folk relative to bread, quotes
the story Of a thief who entered the
window Of house with intent to COM
NIT burglary. but refused to step on
he trough still containing the dough,
believing that to do so would be an
mpiety. This Is similar to the Ameri-
,an story of two hungry burglars who
.efused to satisfy their hunger with
he meat which they found in a we'll
stocked larder because it was Friday.
A writer in one of our magazines
'ays that In Gottland the cross is still
signed before the oven fire is lighted
,r the dough kneaded. This practice
8 very common in the country districts
Ill over Europe. In Brittany the house
wife makes the sign Of the cross with
he right hand while she places the
eft hand in the trough. After the
Tough is kneaded the lid of the trough
o shut, and so Is the door; for If q
.at should enter the room the bread
would not rise. Certain charms of in
Yocations are used TO cause the bread
o multiply itself. Thus, the peasant
adjures the dough to imi-
ate the leaven, the wheat, the miller.
md to rise. She would be very angry
+ any one should sing or whistle in the
'oom while she is making the loaf.
In some parts Of Europe the bake
wen is almost a sacred object. In GER
ain places Of Brittany, for example.
t is dedicated with ceremonies; the
wood is sprinkled with blessed water:
he proper heat is attested by the melt
ng Of a bottle, and. finally, an egg is
broken for luck. Besides, there are
certain days on which bread must not
be baked. as on Good Friday or during
he night Of All Saints, when the
ghosts would be sure to eat it.-House-
hold Words.