History of Wedding Cakes
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When you are about to start a new relationship, what else will be better than delicious wedding cakes to add much more sweetness to your life!
William Woys Weaver, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, says in his Foreword, “The great cake and its layers uppon layers of sublimated meanings- erotic to commemorative- are certainly here to stay. It is a food that has become a veritable institution. A wedding without it would be a wedding without protocol, a rite without confirmation.”
The moment you look at a cake, it increases your appetite. Cakes today have become the inseparable custom of the weddings. But have you ever paused and realised that the wedding cakes carry a meaningful tradition along with them?
Cakes, no doubt, add to the taste of the celebration, but if historical facts are to be believed then you will be surprised to know that they also play an important role in wedding ceremonies. And hence the newly weds should not only savor the toothsome cakes but should also be acquainted with the history that they bring along. It will further add up to their pleasure.
The first cakes in Roman times were made of wheat or barley, and were not baked with butter-cream icing as is done now a days. And at that time these cakes were broken over the bride’s head to symbolise her fertility and as a blessing for long life and many children. Guests, by getting a share in the crumbs, also got a share in the prosperity and good luck of the couple! Single women hurried for the grains to ensure their own betrothals.
Then in the middle ages, as per the tradition, the guests were supposed to bring small wedding cakes to the celebration. Those cakes were then piled up as high as possible and the couple was supposed to kiss each other over the top without collapsing the pile. If they managed to do it successfully then it also symbolised good luck and prosperity.
In the 17th century, a French chef, visiting London, transformed this haphazard heap of cakes by icing them together. The iced cake stood as a symbol of purity during the Renaissance period, and it became the real centre of attraction of the wedding. The whiteness of the cake also reflected the wealth of the family because the white refined sugar was expensive and hard to obtain.
Around this time, small pieces of the wedding cakes were given to the guests and it was believed that if crumbs were put under your pillow, you would dream of your future partner. By Victorian times, then, the white iced tiered wedding cake was firmly established in tradition.
In the past everyone wanted the same bland white cake with white icing because earlier the cakes were considered as a symbol. But gone are the days of boring and monotonous wedding cakes. Now is the trend of elegant and classy cakes. In the present scenario the bakers are asked to prepare unique cakes that complement the colors, theme and style of the wedding. Sometimes the bride wants an element of her wedding dress incorporated into the cake. Wedding dresses may still be white, but many wedding cakes are getting a shot of color.
Out of all the wedding plans, choosing a cake is of utmost imporatnce. A wedding cake today is as much special as the bride and the groom themselves. The flavors and style are decided while taking into consideration the season, location, and the theme. The master bakers and decorators are required to prepare such wedding cakes which are not only visually appealing but equally luscious as well.
So has’nt your mouth started watering as yet! Go ahead and order a classy yummy cake for your wedding and invite everybody to share it with you. You may refer to some of these sites for invitations:
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