Often the question of why rice with raisins, honey, syrup or granulated sugar is eaten at the funeral rises for people who are not too close to the Orthodox faith. Any funeral dinner invariably begins with a spoonful of this sweet cereal and pancake. Tradition is passed down from generation to generation. Even in those days when it was not universally accepted to talk aloud about one’s commitment to a particular faith, and when all this was considered “opium for the people,” rice with raisins was necessarily present at the funeral.
Where did this dish come from and what symbolism was introduced into its recipe? We will provide information about this right now. At the same time, in addition to the name of the rice with a raisin on the wake, we will learn how to cook this ritual dish. Naturally, we hope and believe that its recipe will not come in handy in your life.
Grain or the cycle of joy?
With the name of the Slavic memorial dish, everything is not so simple. There are at least two versions of the translation. One at a time, the name of the rice with a raisin on the wake comes from the word coconut. It is translated from Greek and means "grain." From this it becomes clear that the formulation necessarily contains some kind of cereal. Kutya is the name of rice with raisins. It is customary to cook rice at the commemoration, although the original used to be ordinary grain or barley, or even pearl barley. Any cereal that was born in the year of the gathering of the meal was considered acceptable.
The second version of the emergence of the name of rice with a raisin on the wake is the word "kut". In the ancient dialects of the Slavs of some territories, it meant "joy" and "circle". Kutya symbolized the cycle of life, and it was assumed that she would leave the other world with joy and relief from the burden of life's worries.
Many consider this ritual dish to be Christian. But its roots, as you can understand, are even deeper. Kutia decided to cook in pagan times, presenting as a sacrifice to deities.
Kutya Recipe
Having learned what is called rice with raisins at the funeral, let's say a few words about the more detailed composition of the dish and its step-by-step cooking. Grain (wheat, barley, rice) symbolizes rebirth. Like a grain that fell into the bowels of the earth and soon sprouted again and experienced the joy of life, the soul of a person prepares for the resurrection in the Kingdom of God and a joyful stay in it.
Raisins and honey - bliss, sweetness from being in the Kingdom of God.
The sweet ingredients in the dish do not necessarily contain honey. Although the original recipe suggests its presence in rice. Depending on the possibilities, today it is allowed to introduce jam or regular sugar into the recipe. With raisins, too, everything is ambiguous. Together with it, it is permissible to be in rice kutie to other dried fruits. Variation of "rich kutya" may include prunes, candied fruits, poppy seeds and dried apricots. But the so-called "poor" kutia is an option containing a minimum of products: rice, honey and raisins. Currently preferred is the second recipe. One reason is easier cooking.
Components for ritual cereal
- Rice (preferably steamed, having long grains) - half a glass.
- Water - two glasses.
- Seedless raisins - half a glass.
- Honey - one and a half tablespoons. This component is often replaced with sugar in the same amount.
- A pinch of salt.
- Optionally, you can take dried apricots, candied fruits, prunes and poppy seeds - just a handful - to "enrich" kutia.
Step by step cooking traditional kutya
Rinse first. Then soak in clean cold water. Soaking time varies from two hours to four. It is better that the grains stay in the water longer.
Boil water and add salt to it. Next, send rice to a bowl of boiling water. Boil it with regular stirring until cooked. The cooking temperature is moderate. It is important to maintain grain integrity. Drain the prepared rice and rinse with cold running water in a fine sieve.
Raisins (and, if desired, other dried fruits) also need to be prepared. It is more convenient to do this at a time when rice is cooked in a pan. Rinse the raisins in hot water. Place in a separate cup and pour boiling water over it. After two to three minutes, drain the water from the raisins. Wait until all has cooled well. Now dry it.
Add all the raisins to the rice. Also enter honey or sugar, which is designed for your prescription. In order for sugar to disperse well enough in the finished dish, it must be dissolved in a very small amount of water. Add the resulting suspension to the finished dish. Mix thoroughly, observing the safety of grains. Kutia should turn out beautiful and crumbly.
The dishes in which the products were mixed must be covered. Thus, the remaining heat from the rice will come out, which will contribute to the absorption of honey in the cereal.
For serving, put the finished kutya in a bowl, cup or bowl. Place the dishes with it in the middle of the table.
Kutia from rice raisins and honey, at the wake and not only
Finally, a few words about the fact that there is this ritual dish was adopted not only during the funeral dinner. At Christmas and Epiphany, they also prepare such kutia. But it should be noted, people do not seek to do it for these holidays, since associations with kutya are often far from a festival for the average Slav.