Wedding cake
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The tradition of having a wedding cake for
dessert dates back hundreds of years, but traditions regarding the cake itself
have changed. Ancient Greeks used to serve to their guests small hard biscuits
seasoned with sesame and honey. One of these biscuits would be crumbled over
the bride's head in hopes of good luck with the harvest and fertility in child
bearing. Years later baking powder and baking soda were discovered, which
enables people to make light and airy cakes instead of biscuits.
Medieval feasts started the tradition of guests taking a small groom's cake (a fruit cake) home with them. This may have been the start to wedding favors. Unmarried women put a piece of the cake under their pillow hoping they would dream of their future husband's face. This practice only left the women with dirty pillows. In ancient England guests brought cakes and stacked them on top of each other. It was a tradition that the bride and groom must kiss over the cakes, and if they could, they would have a lifetime of prosperity. This must have been a funny sight when the stack was piled high. Years ago wedding cakes were rather bland, white inside and out. Nowadays cakes come in many different sizes, shapes, colors and flavors. They are decorated with flowers, greenery, ribbon and icing. It is a tradition to save the top tier of your wedding cake and enjoy it on your first wedding anniversary. This custom is fairly recent, dating back to the early 19th century. Originally the newlyweds ate the top tier to celebrate the christening of their first-born, and not their first anniversary. But today people are waiting longer to have children and frozen cakes do not stay fresh for years, so the tradition was changed as society changed. The top layer of the cake can be made with alcohol to help it winterize better. Another option is to have your baker make a small cake a year after your wedding so it's nice and fresh. By Nicole Mazzeo Wrapwithus wedding favors |