The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-08-05
THE LOAF OF BREAD.
Superstitions of Many Lands
Connected Herewith.
THE CROSS UPON THE LOAF.
Survival Of m Old Pagan Custom.
What . Crack Across the Loaf
Means-The Oven a Sacred Object.
On,ens on Birth, Marriage and Death.

Onnens on Birth, Marriage and Death
One morning one summer, when
was spending few days at a farm
house in eastern Ohio, the good house
wife showed that she was troubled
Naturally I inquired the cause. oh
she said, I'm afraid something dread
full will happen. This morning / put q
batch OF bread into the oven, and all
the loaves except one cracked across
the top"
"What if they didr' I 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 misfor-
tune to some one in the family?
would not have had it happen for the
world"
AS left few days after this mis-
hap to the bread I never learned
whether the sign was a true omen or
not. However. the housewife had con-
tributed to my stock Of information
and had given me an item of folklore
that led to further investigation.
One of my German friends tells me
that In many parts of his native coun-
try 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 misfortune to
dear friend, while cracks on the lower
side OF the bread are taken to indicate
a birth
AS many OF us know, bakers in many
places mark the sign of a cross upon
the dough before placing 1t in the oven.
The reason for making this sign be-
comes plain when we know the origin
of the custom. Almost ali 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 q religious
significance, especially the cakes offer
ed to the gods and goddesses. These
cakes We're prepared in 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 trium-
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 recognized Christian protecting
mark against the attacks of evil spirits. /
witches and the like; hence bread
marked with the cross is supposed to I
be waterproof, will bake all right, not /
crack across the top, etc.
Just as the Jews have passover cakes
and other peoples have had specially 1
food for their religious feS /
rivals, so the 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 truth. to study the superstitions
about bread is to take wide lesson in
These superstitions relate to
the kneading trough, the oven. bakers
and bread. For instance. in many parts
Of France the archie, or kneading
trough. is more than a rude kitchen
utensil. 1t is often a pretty bit of
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
the trough still containing the dough.
believing that to do so would be an
Lmpiety.
A writer in an English magazine says
that in Cortland the cross is still sign
ed before the oven fire is lighted or
the dough kneaded. This practice is
very common In the country districts
Ill over Europe. In Brittany the house
wife makes the sign of the cross with
The right hand while she places the left
hand in the trough. After the dough is
the lid Of the trough is shut.
md so is the door, for IL the cat should
enter the room the bread would not
Use. Certain charms or invocations
ire used to cause the bread to multiply
tself. Thus the peasant housewife adj
lures the dough to initiate the leaven,
he wheat the miller and to rise. She
would be very angry If any one should
ling or whistle in the room while she
8 making the loaf.
wen is almost a sacred object. In GER
ain places Of Brittany, for example. it
IS dedicated with ceremonies. The
wood is sprinkled with blessed water
rhe proper heat is attested by the
Melting of a bottle, and finally an egg
$ broken for luck. Besides. there are
'ertain days on which bread must not
,e baked. as on Holy Friday or during
he night Of All Saints. when the ghosts
would be sure to eat it.
The loaf OF bread itself IS connected
With whole crowd OF superstitions
according to an old English supersti-
ion. IL loaf accidentally parts in the
land while an unmarried lady is cut
ing It this may be taken TO indicate
'ither that she will not be married dur
ng the next twelve months, or. what is
worse, that there will be dissensions of
ONE kind In the family. Some folks
ave fear Of turning a loaf upside
lown after cutting 1t. OF course it is
regarded as bad luck for a