Kalach is a type of Slavic bread that is round in shape and consumed in several European countries. It is made with common bread ingredients and has a braided appearance in the Ukrainian version. The bread has religious and cultural significance, being used in feasts, offered to guests, and even placed near the chest of a deceased person.
Kalach is a type of Slavic bread produced and consumed in several European countries such as Hungary, Russia and Ukraine. The appearance and shape of the bread may differ from country to country, but bread is almost always round in shape. The Polish version of the bread can come in a simple round shape with or without a hole in the middle. The Ukrainian version, however, is particularly distinguished by its round, “braided” appearance with a hole in the middle. Kalach is also known as “kolach” or “kolachi” in its plural form.
The name “kalach” comes from the Slavic or Ukrainian word “kolo”, meaning “circle” or “wheel”, the latter probably pertaining to the primitive method of grinding grain with two round stones. Bread was said to be a regular part of everyday meals and feasts, for rich and poor alike. According to Russian accounts, tsars or monarchs would send the kolachi to church clerics as a sign of respect and welcome, and would also give the appointed servant a coin to buy himself his own piece of kolach as he carried the kolachi to the recipients. In the Ukrainian tradition, bread, along with a little salt, is offered to guests, who will take a small piece and dip it in salt.
The ingredients of kalach are commonly used in making any other bread, such as flour, eggs, oil and yeast. Some sugar and salt are added for some flavor, as well as some milk for a smoother texture. Once all the ingredients have been kneaded, the dough is usually set aside to rest so the yeast can rise and spread the dough to double its initial size. For the “braided” Ukrainian kalach, the dough is broken into three pieces of string, which will be wrapped and braided together. The three strings of pasta also have a religious meaning, as they represent the Holy Trinity.
Once the strings are intertwined, the formed bread will be allowed to rise again so that it expands, before being brushed with an egg to create a glazed look. Poppy or sesame seeds can be sprinkled on top for a final embellishment. Bakers usually know kalach is cooked if it looks hollow when tapped lightly.
During Christmas Eve, Ukrainian families usually have on their tables three pieces of kolachi stacked on top of each other, with a lighted candle inserted through the hole. The Kalach’s symbolism of eternity also makes it an important part of funeral ceremonies, as Christians believe in an afterlife. A kalach is usually placed near the dead person’s chest before being buried, in order to provide some food for his soul as it travels to the afterlife.
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