Simferopol gymnasiums reminded why bread in Russia was called “father”

On the eve of the World Bread Day, which is celebrated on October 16, the Simferopol library-branch No. 4 named after M.M. Kotsyubinsky held a literary and educational program “Fatherland and bread – concepts of saints” for students of the Hero of the Soviet Union Gymnasium No. 9. Students were reminded of centuries-old traditions of attitude to the main product on the table and its place in culture.

The event was organized as part of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and timed to coincide with the World Bread Day. The meeting opened with the lines of Vasily Fedorov: “Bread is the head of everything!..” We have no right to forget the golden words: “Bread is the head of everything!” In the field, in the house, in the state.

The hosts told the gymnasium students about the history of bread and its importance in the traditions of the Russian people. The narrative was accompanied by a video showing “Bread – from spike to loaf”. The children learned that in Russia bread has long been called “Zhito” – from the word “to live”, as well as “breadwinner” and “father”.

Schoolchildren were reminded how in different eras people treated bread with respect, arranging holidays in honor of sowing pain and harvesting. The gymnasists checked their knowledge of folklore in the quiz “Sit on a stump, eat a cake!”, unraveled the crossword “Bread is eternal reverence!” and played the game “The Motherland of Bread”, where it was necessary to determine which products belong to bakery products.

The poetic dedication to bread was the performance of the gymnasium students themselves – they read the poem “Pillars” by the classic of Crimean literature Vladimir Natanovich Orlov. The lyrics sounded: "...a loaf of earth and sky / On your table / Nothing stronger than bread / There is no on earth ...".

Information support of the program was the book exhibition “Bread Day”. Gymnasists got acquainted with publications from the library fund, among which are Bread by V.I. Stepanenko, Bread We Eat by K.K. Barykin, Lisichkin Bread by M.M. Prishvin, Two Plows by K.D. Ushinsky, Warm Bread by K.G. Paustovsky, Baker by I.V. Karpova and Warm Bread by V.V. Putilina.

The event ended with lines from the poem “Bread” by Natalia Konchalovskaya: “I appeal to you, sons, mine or strangers, / Motherland, bread, mother and family are holy concepts.”.