King Cake / Bolo Rei
english
Bolo rei (English: literally King Cake) is a traditional Portuguese cake that is usually eaten around Christmas, from December 25 until the Dia dos Reis (literally Day of Kings, a reference to the three kings) on January 6. The cake itself is round with a large hole in the centre, resembling a crown covered with crystallized and dried fruit.
The bolo rei is baked from a soft, white dough, with raisins, various nuts, and crystallized fruit. Also included is the characteristic "fava", and tradition dictates that whoever finds the fava has to pay for the bolo rei next year. Initially, a small prize was also included within the cake. However, the inclusion of the prize (usually a small metal toy) was forbidden by the European Union, citing safety reasons.
Behind the king cake is a symbolism all 2000 years of existence. In a very short, one can say that this sweet delicacy represents the gifts the three wise men gave to baby Jesus at birth. Thus, the gold symbolizes the crust; fruits, candied and dried, represent the myrrh and the aroma of the cake marks the incense.
Even at the base of the imaginary, the bean also has its "explanation." Legend has it that when the Magi saw the star that announced the birth of Jesus, disputed among themselves which of the three would have the honor of being the first to toast the Child. In order to end this discussion, a baker, a cake fashioned hiding inside a bean. The Wise Men who rails slice of cake containing the bean would be the first to deliver the gift. The dilemma was solved, although it is unclear whether it was Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar the lucky winner.
Historically speaking, the version is quite different. The Romans used beans to practice inserted in the banquets of the Saturnalia, during which they proceeded to the election of the King's Party, also called King of Fava. This custom probably had its origin in a game of children very often during those celebrations which consisted in choosing a king among themselves, taking it to sort through the beans.
This game turned out to be innocent adapted by adults, who started taking the beans to vote at meetings. Given that children's game to be characteristic of the month of December, the Catholic Church decided to relate it to the Nativity, and then also with the Epiphany (the day between December 25 and January 6). That date came to be known as the Church of Epiphany, when some families, particularly in Spain, seek to maintain the tradition, not only eating the king cake as taking the opportunity to distribute the gifts for the children.
Beyond this, there was another tradition, that few will know who said that Christians should eat 12 cakes-kings, between Christmas and the Kings, a festival that began very early to be held at the court of the kings of France. The cake-King has indeed arisen in this country, under Louis XIV, to the festivities of New Year and the Epiphany. With the French Revolution in 1789, the delicacy was banned, but as business was good, the pastry confection it continued under the name of gateau des-san cullottes.
Português
Por detrás do bolo-rei está toda uma simbologia com 2000 anos de existência. De uma forma muito resumida, pode dizer-se que esta doce iguaria representa os presentes que os três Reis Magos deram ao Menino Jesus aquando do seu nascimento. Assim, a côdea simboliza o ouro; as frutas, cristalizadas e secas, representam a mirra; e o aroma do bolo assinala o incenso.
Ainda na base do imaginário, também a fava tem a sua "explicação". Reza a lenda que, quando os Reis Magos viram a estrela que anunciava o nascimento de Jesus, disputaram entre si qual dos três teria a honra de ser o primeiro a brindar o Menino. Com vista a acabar com aquela discussão, um padeiro confeccionou um bolo escondendo no seu interior uma fava. O Rei Mago a quem calhasse a fatia de bolo contendo a fava seria o primeiro a entregar o presente. O dilema ficou solucionado, embora não se saiba se foi Gaspar, Baltazar ou Belchior o feliz contemplado.
Historicamente falando, a versão é bem diferente. Os romanos usavam as favas para a prática inserida nos banquetes das Saturnais, durante os quais se procedia à eleição do Rei da Festa, também designado Rei da Fava. Este costume terá tido origem num jogo de crianças muito frequente durante aquelas celebrações e que consistia em escolher entre si um rei, tirando-o à sorte com as favas.
Este inocente jogo acabou por ser adaptado pelos adultos, que passaram a fazer uso das favas para votar nas assembleias. Dado aquele jogo infantil ser característico do mês de Dezembro, a Igreja Católica decidiu relacioná-lo com a Natividade e, depois, também com a Epifania (os dias entre 25 de Dezembro e 6 de Janeiro). Esta última data acabou por ser designada pela Igreja como Dia de Reis, altura em que algumas famílias, nomeadamente em Espanha, procuram manter a tradição, não só comendo o bolo-rei como aproveitando a ocasião para distribuir os presentes pelas crianças.
Para além desta, havia uma outra tradição, da qual poucos terão conhecimento, que afirmava que os cristãos deveriam comer 12 bolos-reis, entre o Natal e os Reis, festa que muito cedo começou a ser celebrada na corte dos reis de França. O bolo- -rei terá, aliás, surgido neste país, no tempo de Luís XIV, para as festas do Ano Novo e do Dia de Reis. Com a Revolução Francesa, em 1789, a iguaria foi proibida, mas, como bom negócio que era, os pasteleiros continuaram a confeccioná-lo sob o nome de gâteau des san-cullottes.
King Cake / Bolo Rei
english
Bolo rei (English: literally King Cake) is a traditional Portuguese cake that is usually eaten around Christmas, from December 25 until the Dia dos Reis (literally Day of Kings, a reference to the three kings) on January 6. The cake itself is round with a large hole in the centre, resembling a crown covered with crystallized and dried fruit.
The bolo rei is baked from a soft, white dough, with raisins, various nuts, and crystallized fruit. Also included is the characteristic "fava", and tradition dictates that whoever finds the fava has to pay for the bolo rei next year. Initially, a small prize was also included within the cake. However, the inclusion of the prize (usually a small metal toy) was forbidden by the European Union, citing safety reasons.
Behind the king cake is a symbolism all 2000 years of existence. In a very short, one can say that this sweet delicacy represents the gifts the three wise men gave to baby Jesus at birth. Thus, the gold symbolizes the crust; fruits, candied and dried, represent the myrrh and the aroma of the cake marks the incense.
Even at the base of the imaginary, the bean also has its "explanation." Legend has it that when the Magi saw the star that announced the birth of Jesus, disputed among themselves which of the three would have the honor of being the first to toast the Child. In order to end this discussion, a baker, a cake fashioned hiding inside a bean. The Wise Men who rails slice of cake containing the bean would be the first to deliver the gift. The dilemma was solved, although it is unclear whether it was Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar the lucky winner.
Historically speaking, the version is quite different. The Romans used beans to practice inserted in the banquets of the Saturnalia, during which they proceeded to the election of the King's Party, also called King of Fava. This custom probably had its origin in a game of children very often during those celebrations which consisted in choosing a king among themselves, taking it to sort through the beans.
This game turned out to be innocent adapted by adults, who started taking the beans to vote at meetings. Given that children's game to be characteristic of the month of December, the Catholic Church decided to relate it to the Nativity, and then also with the Epiphany (the day between December 25 and January 6). That date came to be known as the Church of Epiphany, when some families, particularly in Spain, seek to maintain the tradition, not only eating the king cake as taking the opportunity to distribute the gifts for the children.
Beyond this, there was another tradition, that few will know who said that Christians should eat 12 cakes-kings, between Christmas and the Kings, a festival that began very early to be held at the court of the kings of France. The cake-King has indeed arisen in this country, under Louis XIV, to the festivities of New Year and the Epiphany. With the French Revolution in 1789, the delicacy was banned, but as business was good, the pastry confection it continued under the name of gateau des-san cullottes.
Português
Por detrás do bolo-rei está toda uma simbologia com 2000 anos de existência. De uma forma muito resumida, pode dizer-se que esta doce iguaria representa os presentes que os três Reis Magos deram ao Menino Jesus aquando do seu nascimento. Assim, a côdea simboliza o ouro; as frutas, cristalizadas e secas, representam a mirra; e o aroma do bolo assinala o incenso.
Ainda na base do imaginário, também a fava tem a sua "explicação". Reza a lenda que, quando os Reis Magos viram a estrela que anunciava o nascimento de Jesus, disputaram entre si qual dos três teria a honra de ser o primeiro a brindar o Menino. Com vista a acabar com aquela discussão, um padeiro confeccionou um bolo escondendo no seu interior uma fava. O Rei Mago a quem calhasse a fatia de bolo contendo a fava seria o primeiro a entregar o presente. O dilema ficou solucionado, embora não se saiba se foi Gaspar, Baltazar ou Belchior o feliz contemplado.
Historicamente falando, a versão é bem diferente. Os romanos usavam as favas para a prática inserida nos banquetes das Saturnais, durante os quais se procedia à eleição do Rei da Festa, também designado Rei da Fava. Este costume terá tido origem num jogo de crianças muito frequente durante aquelas celebrações e que consistia em escolher entre si um rei, tirando-o à sorte com as favas.
Este inocente jogo acabou por ser adaptado pelos adultos, que passaram a fazer uso das favas para votar nas assembleias. Dado aquele jogo infantil ser característico do mês de Dezembro, a Igreja Católica decidiu relacioná-lo com a Natividade e, depois, também com a Epifania (os dias entre 25 de Dezembro e 6 de Janeiro). Esta última data acabou por ser designada pela Igreja como Dia de Reis, altura em que algumas famílias, nomeadamente em Espanha, procuram manter a tradição, não só comendo o bolo-rei como aproveitando a ocasião para distribuir os presentes pelas crianças.
Para além desta, havia uma outra tradição, da qual poucos terão conhecimento, que afirmava que os cristãos deveriam comer 12 bolos-reis, entre o Natal e os Reis, festa que muito cedo começou a ser celebrada na corte dos reis de França. O bolo- -rei terá, aliás, surgido neste país, no tempo de Luís XIV, para as festas do Ano Novo e do Dia de Reis. Com a Revolução Francesa, em 1789, a iguaria foi proibida, mas, como bom negócio que era, os pasteleiros continuaram a confeccioná-lo sob o nome de gâteau des san-cullottes.