The history of the wedding cake goes back as far as the Roman Empire, well before the concept of elaborately icing a cake, was invented. Through the years, the wedding cake has become the focus of a variety of customs and traditions, which have their origins in different parts of the world. Over the years, Some of these customs have survived through time, and are still being honoured today, whereas some (thankfully!) are not practiced anymore. Here's a look at some wedding cake traditions and their significance.
In Medieval England, cakes were described as breads which were flour-based foods without sweetening. No accounts tell of a special type of cake appearing at wedding ceremonies. There are, however, stories of a custom involving stacking small sweet buns in a large pile in front of the newlyweds.
The wedding cake, as we know it today, was originally made of many little wheat cakes. These were broken over the head of the new bride. The tradition may have its roots as far back as the Roman Empire. The groom would eat part of a loaf of barley bread baked especially for the nuptials and break the rest over his bride's head. This tradition was meant to bestow fertility and good luck to the new bride for her married life. This is one wedding cake tradition, which is fortunately for the bride, not practiced any more.
By the late 19th century, wedding cakes became really popular. Early cakes were simple single-tiered plum cakes, with some variations. It was a while before the first multitier wedding cake of today appeared in all its glory.
The cutting of the wedding cake is not done just to signify the end of the wedding formalities. At one time, the wedding cake was cut only by the bride, and was symbolic of her upcoming loss of virginity. But today, this tradition includes the groom as well, and cutting the cake and sharing the first bite with each other, symbolizes that the wedded couple promises to share a whole new life together.
According to another wedding cake tradition, if an unmarried person sleeps with a piece of a wedding cake under their pillow, they will dream of their future spouse that night. The notion of sleeping with a piece of cake underneath one's pillow dates back as far as the 17th century. This is one custom that is sure to excite the single guests at your wedding!
Wedding cakes take center stage in the traditional cake cutting ceremony, symbolically the first task that bride and groom perform jointly as husband and wife. This is one tradition that most of us have witnessed many times. The first piece of cake is cut by the bride with the "help" of the groom. This task originally was delegated exclusively to the bride. It was she who cut the cake for sharing with her guests.
Cake cutting became more difficult with early multitier cakes, because the icing had to be hard enough to support the cake's own weight. This, of necessity, made cutting the cake a joint project. After the cake cutting ceremony, the couple proceed to feed one other from the first slice. This provides another lovely piece of symbolism, the mutual commitment of bride and groom to provide for one another.
The top tier of the wedding cake was traditionally kept and used at the christening of the couple's first child. The tradition has its roots in the late 19th century when grand cakes were baked for christenings. It was assumed that the christening would occur soon after the wedding ceremony, so the two ceremonies were often linked, as were the cakes.
But today, this tradition has been modified slightly, and the top tier is saved to be used at the couple's first anniversary. Regardless of the underlying reason, when the couple finally does eat the top tier, it serves as a very pleasant reminder of what was their very special day.
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