Karavay: Slavic bread to welcome guests
Ever seen how honored diplomats and foreign leaders are greeted in Russia with bread and salt? Well, it's an old tradition.
From very old times, it's been a custom in Russia to meet guests 'with bread and salt' (it has even become an aphorism).
And 'karavai' is a round shaped bread and a symbol for happiness and abundance. That's why it's also a must at every Slavic wedding and even modern Russians sometimes follow the tradition. The bride and groom should be the first to take a bite of the ‘karavay’ and then they share it with all the guests, as if sharing their happiness.
'Karavai' is traditionally decorated with ears molded from the bread (for prosperity), clusters of guelder rose (for kids) and two rings or a pair of swans (as a symbol of fidelity).