For the majority of Slavic countries, wedding bread is a very significant item. There are many traditions connected to it, some of which are really adorable and fun. For example, some Ukrainian grooms traditionally present their bride’s mother with specially-baked pastry shaped like a pair of boots. How did such a strange custom appear? Who bakes these cookies? And actually, why boots?! Let’s find out.
This tradition is not really widespread in Ukraine. Many locals haven’t even heard about such a custom, but it exists in some regions of Central Ukraine. A groom is supposed to give his new mother-in-law, his bride’s mom, the wedding bread shaped like a pair of boots. These boots are baked by his family – mother, sister, or another close female relative – before the wedding day. And this whole ritual of gift-giving is a fun activity with joking, singing, and dancing.
But how did this tradition appear? In the past, as early as the 16th-17th century, leather boots were a very expensive and treasured accessory. People often wore them only for special occasions and in winter when they couldn’t walk barefoot anymore. A pair of boots served their owner for years and could even be passed to siblings or children. And at the wedding, a groom presented his bride with a new pair of boots to show his financial capability and serious intentions toward her. This was a way of saying, I will always provide for you, and will give you only the best. Such a wedding gift was a truly useful, costly, and valuable possession.
Some grooms, especially wealthier ones, prepared boots not only for their brides but also for the bride’s mother to show her respect and gratitude for such a wonderful daughter. But, of course, 2 pairs of fine leather boots were even more expensive, so by far, not every groom could afford it. So, the most inventive men found a way to make this gift cheaper without insulting their mothers-in-law – they gave boot-shaped pastries instead of real footwear. Not a bad idea!
Today, any person in Ukraine can afford boots, so the present itself is not that important, what matters is the attention and effort behind it – it’s a bit harder to bake a decent-looking pastry than to just go shopping and buy shoes. The tradition of presenting your mother-in-law with a boot-shaped pastry seems truly adorable and heart-warming.
