Bread in Russian History (What you Knead to Know)
At many points in history, Russians have faced harsh weather, leading to poor harvests and a paucity of food. This contributed to the popularity of bread, especially black rye bread, which was easier to prepare, distribute, and keep than other foods. A city’s ability to produce good bread contributed to their status. Kalach is the representation of Saratov, the "bread capital" of the Volga region. This was led to the city's high status in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century is often still associated with the city.
Bread has even had influence on religion in Russia. During the Great Schism of 1054, cultural differences such as the use of leavened of unleavened Eucharist worsened the separation between what are now the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
In 1736, when Russian soldiers invaded Crimea, one of their major complaints was a lack of black bread. The soldiers were forced to eat the Crimean white bread, and some historians believe this is why the Russian army suffered more casualties from disease and malnutrition than the Turkish forces.
In March of 1917, still recovering from the first World War, the Russian government hoped to completely control the production and distribution of bread. Legislation stated that all grain in the country, belonged to the state; the farmers and producers of grain were just temporary “holders,” and could only hold on to a certain amount of grain, the rest had to be sold to the state at a fixed price. Later that year, large rail shipments of grain on the way to Petrograd failed to arrive. Most of the population agreed that this failure was caused by a weak central authority, which in turn was caused by a food-supply crisis. By the end of 1917, one rally cry of the October Revolution was “Peace! Land Bread!”
Currently, bread still plays a large role in Russia. Bread symbolizes prosperity and wellbeing. Often, a tradition of bread and salt are offered to visitors, valued guests, bishops, and newly-weds to represent fertility and contentment.
Proverbs with Bread
Е́дешь на́ день, хле́ба бери́ на неде́лю // If you take a day trip, take a week's supply of bread
На чужо́й карава́й рот не разева́й // Don't open your mouth [to eat] other people's bread
Хлеб всему́ голова́ // Bread is the head of everything
Хлеб за брю́хом не хо́дит ( а брю́хо за хле́бом) // Bread doesn't go for the belly ( but the belly goes for bread).
Хлеб-соль ешь, а правду-матку режь // Eat bread and salt, cut the mother truth
Around bread there will always be crumbs.
Bread and salt never quarrel.
It is bread that keeps one warm, not fur
One can get sick of cake, but never of bread
With a piece of bread in your hand you'll find paradise under a pine tree.
Resources
http://russia-ic.com/culture_art/cuisine/1267/#.WUPls2jys2x
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Russian_proverbs
http://www.csmonitor.com/1985/0916/obread.html
http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft796nb4mj;brand=ucpress
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?sid=d43b6d43-5597-4ab7-bd67-9fc7c977ac1e%40sessionmgr104&vid=0&hid=103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=117052585&db=aph
http://globalrussia.cga.harvard.edu/exhibits/show/objects/icon/rye
Bread in Russian History (What you Knead to Know)
At many points in history, Russians have faced harsh weather, leading to poor harvests and a paucity of food. This contributed to the popularity of bread, especially black rye bread, which was easier to prepare, distribute, and keep than other foods. A city’s ability to produce good bread contributed to their status. Kalach is the representation of Saratov, the "bread capital" of the Volga region. This was led to the city's high status in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century is often still associated with the city.
Bread has even had influence on religion in Russia. During the Great Schism of 1054, cultural differences such as the use of leavened of unleavened Eucharist worsened the separation between what are now the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
In 1736, when Russian soldiers invaded Crimea, one of their major complaints was a lack of black bread. The soldiers were forced to eat the Crimean white bread, and some historians believe this is why the Russian army suffered more casualties from disease and malnutrition than the Turkish forces.
In March of 1917, still recovering from the first World War, the Russian government hoped to completely control the production and distribution of bread. Legislation stated that all grain in the country, belonged to the state; the farmers and producers of grain were just temporary “holders,” and could only hold on to a certain amount of grain, the rest had to be sold to the state at a fixed price. Later that year, large rail shipments of grain on the way to Petrograd failed to arrive. Most of the population agreed that this failure was caused by a weak central authority, which in turn was caused by a food-supply crisis. By the end of 1917, one rally cry of the October Revolution was “Peace! Land Bread!”
Currently, bread still plays a large role in Russia. Bread symbolizes prosperity and wellbeing. Often, a tradition of bread and salt are offered to visitors, valued guests, bishops, and newly-weds to represent fertility and contentment.
Proverbs with Bread
Е́дешь на́ день, хле́ба бери́ на неде́лю // If you take a day trip, take a week's supply of bread
На чужо́й карава́й рот не разева́й // Don't open your mouth [to eat] other people's bread
Хлеб всему́ голова́ // Bread is the head of everything
Хлеб за брю́хом не хо́дит ( а брю́хо за хле́бом) // Bread doesn't go for the belly ( but the belly goes for bread).
Хлеб-соль ешь, а правду-матку режь // Eat bread and salt, cut the mother truth
Around bread there will always be crumbs.
Bread and salt never quarrel.
It is bread that keeps one warm, not fur
One can get sick of cake, but never of bread
With a piece of bread in your hand you'll find paradise under a pine tree.
Resources
http://russia-ic.com/culture_art/cuisine/1267/#.WUPls2jys2x
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Russian_proverbs
http://www.csmonitor.com/1985/0916/obread.html
http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft796nb4mj;brand=ucpress
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?sid=d43b6d43-5597-4ab7-bd67-9fc7c977ac1e%40sessionmgr104&vid=0&hid=103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=117052585&db=aph
http://globalrussia.cga.harvard.edu/exhibits/show/objects/icon/rye