Bread Braiding

Bread Braiding is a moorish tradition originating in the farmsteads surrounding Littleton On-the-Moor.   It is historically associated with harvest and Rostide, with the ritual giving thanks to Dagda for the nourishment of food, family and community.  

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A unique tradition...

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  The ritual was created specifically for giving thanks for three things: good company, good health and good food.   During the braiding, each of these concepts are represented by a large strand of ribbon-shaped dough. Sometimes the dough is scored in a decorative manner, though this is not strictly necessary for the ritual.   These three ribbons are then woven together into a plait and baked until golden-brown.   Once cooled, the resulting loaf is broken, usually with family and friends at the traditional end of harvest feast.  

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An elaborate process...

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  Though traditionally, only three ribbons were used to create a braided loaf, offerings have become more and more elaborate over the centuries.   It is now common for families, friends and even communities to share in the process with each individual contributing a long strand of dough each.   In some areas, braiding dough has become a competition of who can make the biggest, most intricate braided loaf, involving as many people as possible.   According to the Bridgport Guild of Scholars, the longest braided loaf ever recorded was just shy of 32 feet long. It featured no less than 116 ribbons of dough, contributed from the families of 21 different moorish farmsteads. The loaf was that long it had to be cooked in stages in a purpose built oven!  

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A symbol of togetherness and community...

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  For the moorish, harvest time is a celebration of nourishment.   The end of harvest feast, is dedicated to the Guardian of life, Dagda, and the agricultural bounty that she has so generously provided.   The fertile earth has worked hard to provide the crops needed to sustain the people of the moors, and the changing of the seasons is also associated with a sense of relief. The larders and food stores have been restocked ensuring the nourishment of the people for the coming year, whilst the coming season of Rostide gives the ground a well-earned pause.   The Moorish harvest, then, is a time of celebration and reflection, and the ritual of Bread Braiding encapsulates the sentiment well.   Meanwhile, dough braiding is a trend which is catching on throughout the empire for other reasons...   Togetherness and community is anathema to the violent and oppressive nature of the Malvarri Empire and small tokens of rebellion, as it turns out, can be quite tasty!