Kalács
Encyclopedia
Kalács is a Hungarian sweet bread
very similar to brioche
, usually baked in a braided form, and traditionally considered an Easter
food. The word comes from the Slavic languages
and refers to the original rounded form of the bread. Similar types of bread also exist in other Central European and Eastern European countries, such as Kalach
in Ukraine and Russia.
, enriched with milk and eggs as well. Kalács is baked in an oven or brick oven, sometimes directly on the stones of the brick oven, or on a baking sheet.
menu in Hungary
, often consecrated together with ham
in Catholic
churches.
In the Szeged
region at All Saints
unfilled kalács was baked called All Saints' Kalács (mindönszentök kalácsa, kóduskalács = Beggar's Kalács), which was given to beggars at the gate of the graveyard. Also kalács was given to beggars praying at the graveyard's gate in Csallóköz to prevent the dead from returning. Giving kalács to beggars is the Christian
form of the pagan tradition of treating the dead.
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
very similar to brioche
Brioche
Brioche is a highly enriched French pastry, whose high egg and butter content give it a rich and tender crumb. It is "light and slightly puffy, more or less fine, according to the proportion of butter and eggs" It has a dark, golden, and flaky crust, frequently accentuated by an egg wash applied...
, usually baked in a braided form, and traditionally considered an Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
food. The word comes from the Slavic languages
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
and refers to the original rounded form of the bread. Similar types of bread also exist in other Central European and Eastern European countries, such as Kalach
Kalach
Kalach may refer to:*Kalach , a traditional Slavic bread*Kalach , name of several inhabited localities in Russia...
in Ukraine and Russia.
Preparation
Until the end of the 19th century, the preparation of kalács was similar to that of everyday bread; the difference was in the shape, and in the better/quality flour used for the kalács. Nowadays kalács is prepared from a richer doughDough
Dough is a paste made out of any cereals or leguminous crops by mixing flour with a small amount of water and/or other liquid. This process is a precursor to making a wide variety of foodstuffs, particularly breads and bread-based items , flatbreads, noodles, pastry, and similar items)...
, enriched with milk and eggs as well. Kalács is baked in an oven or brick oven, sometimes directly on the stones of the brick oven, or on a baking sheet.
Folklore
Kalács is part of the traditional EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
menu in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, often consecrated together with ham
Ham
Ham is a cut of meat from the thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especiallypigs. Nearly all hams sold today are fully cooked or cured.-Etymology:...
in Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
churches.
In the Szeged
Szeged
' is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county town of Csongrád county. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary....
region at All Saints
All Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
unfilled kalács was baked called All Saints' Kalács (mindönszentök kalácsa, kóduskalács = Beggar's Kalács), which was given to beggars at the gate of the graveyard. Also kalács was given to beggars praying at the graveyard's gate in Csallóköz to prevent the dead from returning. Giving kalács to beggars is the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
form of the pagan tradition of treating the dead.
External links
in Hungarian:- Áprily Lajos: Kalács, keddi kalács
- [ Somlyó Zoltán: Kalács egy tervezett verseskönyv elé]
- [ Zilahy Ágnes: Valódi magyar szakácskönyv (1892)]