Ritual Bread in the Lublin region and its Contemporary Conditions

Abstract

Ritual bread used to play a very important role in various annual and family rituals. In the Lublin region, korowaj – large round braided bread – as well as busłowe łapy, szczodraki, andrzejki or small breads from Wola Obszańska, piróg biłgorajski and the so-called crosses, baked during Lent in Michałówka, deserve special mention. They performed important ritual functions and could be considered in the contexts of religion, magic, mediation, sacrifice, initiation and integration. Changes that have occurred in recent decades in ritual customs and traditions caused the bread to lose its function of an important prop. The types of bread that survived until now have lost their magical and religious significance. In the author’s opinion, it is crucial that actions are taken to protect the still existing traditional forms of bread.