The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-11-27
SYMBOLIC BREAD FORMS
Origins of Shapes Of Pretzels,
Buns and Cakes.
THE SCEIWAANERKUCHEN

Birth Of the "Hair Monkeys"--
Crescent Shaped Rolls Invented
When tho Turks Besieged Vienna
Who woscld think Of the pretzel as
astronomical symbol or the hot cross
bun as a missionary document? Yet
1t is said that originally the one was
intended to represent the sun and
the four seasons and the other to
convert pagan England to Christian
1ty. The former Is declared to have
been first made by the Romans, who
called it the annulus-a word they
are said to havo formed out Of annus.
q yeaTSby which they meaat year
ring. The year represented the
Gun's annual circuit and the four
spokes the seasons It was after
ward known under names IT. the
more northerSy counties OF Europe.
There are two stories Of the origin
OF the hot Cross bun. The Christian
missionaries to England are said to
have discovered that, although they
could alter the views Of the people
ON religious matters, they could not
aniuce them to abandon their time
honored pagan customs. Ono OF
zhese was the eating of certain kind
OF cake in honor Of the Goddess cf
Spring. They decided to put the
sign Of the cross on the Saxon buns
and launch them forth on Inissionr
ary enterprise. The buns accom-
Dlished their mission.
The other story Is that IN early
times in the observance OF Holy
Week the Church was moro strict In
the matter Of fasts than now. Only
u certain amount of food could be
eaten. This was indicated by two
honndary marks made in the dough
90 show the length and width Of the
piece. The losves were sold in
churches and were carried from place
60 place by pilgrims. So ths GUS
com Of crossing the bread used on
Good Friday became fixed.
These are not the only kinds Of
shapes Of bread whose origin has
been traced to odd circumstances.
The crescent shaped rolls which one
sees In some parts Of the city had a
curious birth. On one Of the occa-
Sions when the Turks besieged Wen
ma, Peter Windler and his wife had
a bakery in that city. This bakers
patriotism was tinctured with a
sense Of humor, and possibly q sense
OF business. At any rate. he con-
ceived the idea OF making rolls in
the shape Of q crescent, the emblem
of the Turks. They found ready
sale, for everybody wanted to devour
the half moons typifying the Mahomr
etans at the outer gate.
A great many Americans would
not know what Schwaanerkuchen Is
unless they asked native Of the old
German city Of Rostock. 1t is to
be had only at certain season Of
the year, because it commentaries a
kindly act Of man years agc. Ros-
took was surrounded by an enemy.
The city gates were closed and the
enemy had come close to the wall
with clubs, spears, heavy mortar
slings and many other oldtime imple-
ments Of war. Once, and again and
again they rushed upon the w'.al with
thunderous noise and changing weap-
ons, but the brave burghers as often
forced them back. Then, urged
forward by threatening famine, the
latter sailed beyond the gates and
drove back the foe until the Siege
was raised. It was with great joy
that they saw the bakers Of Schwaan,
q village twelve miles down the RiV-
er Warnow, at the gate as the enemy
drew away, bearing heavily laden
baskets Of cakes. 1t was such a god
send to the famished burghers that
they rewarded the Schwaaner bakers
by giving them the privilege Of COM
ing to Rostock every year on Maun-
dy Thursday to offer their cakes for
sale.
Another German bread, which in
shape resembles capital wv" owes
its existence to the siege Of the Ger
man town Of Krailsheim, 1879. 1t
is called the haaraffen, or hair mon
keys, name suggested by the ap-
Dearance of the apparition which
raised the seize The efforts Of the
besiegcrs to take the place had been
in vain. They decided to starve the
burghers and their families so they
sat down before the town. There
they sat for several months. BY this
time the provisions were getting
short, and starvation seemed iney1-
table. One woman had pondered
long upon the subject and finally
she said to the head Of the defend
ers:
THE people outside the wall are
superstitious; let me masquerade at
night before them on the city wall in
a peculiar dress She was permit
ted to carry out her plan. When
the fantastic figure was seen upon
the wall in the dim light, fitting
from point to point climbing nirnbly
over obstacles, they were horror