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Have you ever attended a wedding reception where no cake
was offered, cut ceremoniously, fed to each other by the
happy couple (sometimes messily and comically so), and then
shared with their guests? If so, then you have probably
attended a very non-traditional wedding. Sharing this first
bite of their wedding cake symbolizes the rest of the couple’s
life together, where they will nourish each other, jointly
and equally; sharing in it before offering it to their guests
symbolizes that they will always put each other first, even
above their loved ones.
Have you ever wondered where this tradition came from,
and why it is such an integral part of the wedding ceremony
and tradition? From the Roman era to the 21st century, it
is an enduring symbol of marriage that crosses geography
and time. From its humble beginnings, a baked loaf of wheat
bread crumbled over the newly married couple’s heads
(or only over the bride’s head by her groom) assured
the couple’s prosperity and luck. This luck was shared
with their wedding guests. Any crumbs that fell to the floor
were shamelessly devoured by their guests in order to bring
them luck as well. These crumbs were also indicative of
the bride’s fertility and the Romans believed that
unmarried women, especially, would benefit; by eating these
crumbs, they would share in the bride’s luck and become
betrothed. Could this perhaps be the origin of the modern
tradition of single women fighting over the bride’s
discarded bouquet?
During the Middle Ages, wedding guests participated in
the wedding cake ceremony by providing small scones or biscuits
which were used to created a pile over which the bride and
broom kissed each other. A successful kiss over the pile
of “cakes” assured them luck in their marriage.
One can imagine the shape that this pile might have formed
was the basis for the shape of the most traditional of modern
wedding cakes; one of the most common modern wedding photos
is the kiss “over the top” of their wedding
cake after having fed each other their first bites of what
signifies the sweet life they anticipate with each other.
In the 17th century, French bakers began coating their
wheat buns with icing; this small act changed the course
of history of the wedding cake. Icing made decorated wedding
cakes possible; this decoration determined the success of
the cakes. From here, the modern traditional wedding cake
developed, with layered white cake and icing being the predominant
choice because of its symbolic significance.
Today, though the wedding cake tradition endures, anything
goes for modern weddings. The happy couple can express their
individuality and hope for their future in keeping with
their personalities. Pies, individual cakes, chocolates,
and even chocolate dipping fountains have been chosen by
modern couples. Groom’s cakes are also in vogue, and
are used to honor and express the groom’s style and
preferences, making the wedding truly an integration of
bride and groom coming together to become something new.
Who knew that a simple concoction of flour, sugar, butter
or shortening, eggs, baking powder and soda, and flavoring
could create something so steeped in meaning and tradition
that it would endure for over 2,000 years?
Think about that the next time you a take a nibble of this
sweet tradition. |
