greeting-table-settingJune is a very popular month for weddings, at least in the United States.   I  have attended many weddings with various traditions, but if you ever attended a Ukrainian wedding, you can attest to the fact that there is lots of food, myriad of  decadent desserts, special breads (Greeting Bread and Korovai) in addition to the Wedding Cake, and lots of dancing, to most likely very fast beats of a Ukrainian live band.

I would like to tell you about the special breads.

n-s-greeting-bread
The Greeting Bread is basically the same recipe as the Easter Paska Bread, except that it has an indentation in the middle, for a small container of salt, accompanied by wine, which is used by the parents to greet the newlyweds, as they enter the reception hall.  The parents, and the bride and groom, partake of the Greeting Bread dipped in salt, which symbolizes the bitter moments of life, followed by a sip of wine, which symbolizes the sweet moments in their married life.  This also is a time when both families unite as one, and welcome the newlywed and their families into their family circle.

n-s-korovai-12

The Korovai is elaborately decorated multi-tier bread, which is not consumed, but rather a decoration and a gift from the parents  to the newlyweds.  This bread symbolizes community and the circle of life.  One of the most prominent embellishments on the Korovai are very intricately formed dough doves and other birds, which symbolize the married couple, their family and friends, and fertility.  Wishing the bride and groom future family growth, and healthy children.  The breads are surrounded by a wreath, or leaves, of fresh periwinkle, symbolizing love and purity.  (Periwinkle wreaths are also placed on the head of the Bride and Groom, during the blessing part of the matrimonial ceremony, at the church ).

n-s-forever-heart-korovai-decor-close-up preparation-of-bird-decorations-for-korovai-21

Here are some pictures of other Korovais I have photographed at family and friend’s weddings:

korovai-o-l korovai-t-c o-t-korovai

Also the Wedding Cakes I was honored to taste at these weddings,  during the last few years:

n-s-wedding-cake wedding-cake-o-lwedding-cake-i-b

Wow, I am reliving those moments once more…..can’t wait to attend another wedding.  I will make sure to take pictures of Korovai and Wedding Cakes, since I am totally fascinated be these creations.

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18 Responses

  1. Diana

    June 25th, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    1

    All the food on your blog always looks so tasty! I love the symbolism of the breads and the salt and wine. What a great tradition to share.

  2. Suburban Grandma

    June 25th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    2

    Thank you so much for such a kind comments.
    I never knew how difficult food photography really is….or maybe I need a better camera.
    Yes, this is a very nice addition to a traditional wedding ceremony.
    Hopefully your wedding plans are right on schedule.

  3. Diana

    June 26th, 2009 at 6:37 pm

    3

    We’re doing pretty well with the wedding schedule…maybe even a little ahead on somethings! We met with our officiant for the first time a few weeks ago. He was so nice and relaxed and was up for any traditions like candle ceremonies or sand ceremonies, blessing of the hands, etc. We’re very excited to have him as our officiant for the wedding! Thanks for the well wishes!!

  4. Suburban Grandma

    June 26th, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    4

    I am so happy for you.
    Keep up the great work!

  5. developer

    August 8th, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    5

    Actually I’d never seen such a big and high Wedding Cakes in Ukraine. Korovai is an ordinary thing – but wedding cakes… no, they seems more like a korovai.

  6. Suburban Grandma

    August 8th, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    6

    Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
    The pictures of Korovai,and Wedding Cakes, were taken here in the US, at weddings I attended.
    Ukrainian Korvai can be very plain, or very elaborate. As you can see, the ones I photographed were quite elaborate. One of them was made by me, for my daughter’s wedding, thus reflects her wish, and our mutual design. It has been preserved and became a keepsake for my daughter and her household.
    I believe in Ukraine, the Korovai is shared with guests and consumed at the wedding, but here it is mostly a symbolic bread used for decoration.
    I have never had the pleasure of attending a wedding in Ukraine, but in the US many wedding cakes are two or three tiers tall, thus not only gorgeous, but also quite expensive.

  7. developer

    August 9th, 2010 at 11:18 am

    7

    Thank you for information!
    I live in Ukraine and my English skill is not too high (yet) so there can be some misunderstanding of situation.
    And why are you make Korovai in USA? Do you have Ukrainian roots?

  8. Suburban Grandma

    August 9th, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    8

    Your English is great. Keep up the good work!
    Yes, our background is Ukrainian. We study about Ukraine, and follow many aspects of the Ukrainian culture. US is a melting pot of many nations, and all the different cultures make America what it is today:
    Strong, Prosperous, United and Free.

  9. developer

    August 15th, 2010 at 1:14 pm

    9

    great words! :)

  10. Suburban Grandma

    August 15th, 2010 at 9:01 pm

    10

    Just keep up the good work you are doing, and you will reap your rewards one day.

  11. Janice

    January 2nd, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    11

    Hi, Can you tell me what is in the dough birds that are used to decorate the cakes? My son ate one and he had an allergic reaction and I would like to narrow down what he ate. Thanks for your assistance. Janice

  12. Suburban Grandma

    January 2nd, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    12

    The Korovai birds are normally quite hard to eat, since they are dried up, rather than baked. Also, lots of times the Korovai, including the birds is preserved for storage, rather than used for consumption, which would means that it might be treated with a egg white wash, or even shellacked.
    The birds for my daughter’s Korovai were made out of the same dough as the Korovai, which is similar to the Easter Bread (Paska) dough, but this does not mean that that particular Korovai and birds were made the same way. You should contact the party who’s wedding you attended to get more precise information. Sorry to hear about your son’s allegy. Hopefuly he is fine now.

  13. Janice

    January 2nd, 2011 at 7:24 pm

    13

    Thanks for your quick reply. I wish I could check the source but they were saved by my husband’s grandmother and were ancient! He is allergic to eggs, so that was likely it. Thanks again.

  14. Suburban Grandma

    January 2nd, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    14

    Sorry I could not be of more help. I guess your son really has to watch the ingredients of the food he eats, to make sure it’s safe for him.
    Have a safe and healthy New Year.

  15. evary

    May 17th, 2011 at 11:57 pm

    15

    I’ve always wanted a Ukrainian wedding cake since I was married in 1993 but had no one to make me one. I’m going to tackle this finally for myself for my 18th wedding anniversary.

  16. Suburban Grandma

    May 18th, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    16

    Oohh…that’s so sad that there was no one to make you a Korovai. Actually, I did not have a Korovai at my wedding (over 30 years ago), either, but I did have the greeting bread.
    I think you will do a a great job, making your own Korovai, just for the sake of having it.
    Good luck!

  17. Sandy

    July 10th, 2011 at 10:43 pm

    17

    I am looking for a recipe to make the bird decorations for the wedding paska. I also would like to know how you preserve the bread once you finish assembling it. My 15 year old Granddaughter and I made a presentation bread for a recent celebration and it was a hit.

  18. Suburban Grandma

    July 11th, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    18

    Congratulations on your bread making success!!
    I do have a post about the love birds for Korovai under this link:

    http://suburbangrandma.com/culture/ukrainian-wedding-korovai-recipe-and-technique-for-love-birds-and-other-decorations/

    Also, about preserving the bread, the key is well baked bread, storing in an open, dry area to dry it out slowly. Once dried up all the way through, you can spray it with clear shellac to preserve it. I have not sprayed my daughters, so it is kind of faded, but natural.


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