Ethnographic exhibition “Good bread”
Ethnographic exhibition on the importance of bread and its various forms in folk tradition.
18.09-30.10.2016
Place: Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola, 1 Sandomierska St.
Deadline: September 18 – October 30, 2016
Curator and coordinator of the exhibition: Elżbieta Skromak
Bread in Polish tradition is not only one of the basic foodstuffs but also an important symbol of abundance and prosperity. Since the earliest times, bread in the Polish lands has been respected and attributed an important meaning, as evidenced by its display during solemn holiday celebrations, as well as in family and gathering events.
Bread in the Polish lands has a long history. Already in the early Middle Ages it spread as the most popular cereal product. Initially, much more common were cakes made without sourdough from various grains. Various brioches and soups were also among the popular grain foods, which survived until the 20th century. A very important moment in the history of bread became the use of leavening, which caused the dough to rise and fluff up. On the other hand, since World War I, the custom of baking bread with yeast became widespread in earnest.
Bread in traditional folk culture was not only an important meal, but also something sacred and associated with many rituals, so it took various forms of festive bread. Unfortunately, in western and central Poland, with the end of the 19th century, ceremonial bread, in the form of baked wedding cakes and cones, “puppets” for the godchild or figurines associated with folk magic of annual customs, began to disappear. In the East and Southeast, some of the aforementioned forms of holiday bread were still commonly found until the mid-20th century.
The “Good Bread” exhibition will introduce the history of bread, the “road” from grain to its baking, bakery products and the ritual richness that is associated with bread in folk tradition. In addition to agricultural, farm and kitchen utensils illustrating the subject, there will be archaeological relics and interesting examples of ceremonial and bakery dough characterized by richness of shape and precision of execution.
The musealia on display will come from the State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw, the Seweryn Udziela Ethnographic Museum in Cracow, the F. Kotula Ethnographic Museum a branch of the District Museum in Rzeszów, the Folk Culture Museum in Kolbuszowa, the Lublin Museum in Lublin, the Museum of Kurpie Culture in Ostrołęka, the Museum in Przeworsk and the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola.
The exhibition will be the basis for many educational activities promoting old traditions related to baking bread.
elaborated. E.Skromak
