Food is a favorite subject for proverbs. Why does it become such a frequent occasion for expressing popular experience? If you look closely, it becomes clear that the proverbs about food express urgent problems, without which no one could simply survive. Words like “bread, porridge, kvass” are understandable and familiar to everyone, and therefore the images transmitted through them are very expressive. This is the main reason that proverbs and sayings about food were born in large numbers.
Bread is the head of everything
Bread has always been considered the main product on the table. Without him, the family would not sit at the table. They ate everything with bread: porridge, cabbage soup. Therefore, Russian proverbs about food do not do without mentioning bread. But why is he the head? The fact is that in the old days the words "head" and "main" meant the same thing. The fact that bread was the main thing on the Russian table is not in doubt. Indeed, this valuable product has unique properties that can save even in the most difficult times. No wonder they say: "Better bread with water than a pie with trouble."
Even when dried, bread retains a lot of healthy vitamins and minerals. The expression "sushi crackers" means "get ready for hard times." It was dry bread that often saved the peasants from starvation.
No salt and no bread
However, salt was no less valuable than bread. By the way, this product was considered sacred in Russia. And therefore, proverbs about food are often associated precisely with salt: "Think, don’t think, but you can’t think of better bread and salt."
In ancient times, salt was a rather expensive product. The peasants were extremely careful about her. Hence the sign: sprinkle salt - to a quarrel. But the expression "eat a pood of salt" somewhat lost its original meaning. No, it means the same as before. A pood is 16 kg; to eat a pound of salt means to live with someone for a very long time. Only today we eat 16 kg in just two or three years. But in the old days, salt was saved, and therefore, "eating a pound of salt" meant "going through a lot of difficulties with someone."
Brew porridge
Proverbs about food do not go without porridge. In the old days, porridge was called a festive treat. A lot of people were usually invited to celebrations. Therefore, the preparations were very troublesome for the hostess. Hence the expression “brew porridge”, symbolizing a troublesome and complicated business. But about those who refused to take part in the common cause, they said: "You won’t cook porridge with him." From here, too, went “to dissolve the mess”, that is, to solve complex problems. But if someone is trying hard, putting more effort than required, then they say about this: "You won’t spoil the porridge with butter."
Like cheese in butter
Proverbs and sayings about food fairly accurately reflect the standard of living. Few people know the history of the expression “how cheese in butter rolls”, although its meaning is known to everyone: cheese in butter symbolizes a wonderful life in every sense. You can make assumptions about the considerable price of these products and consider them a symbol of abundance. But in reality, everything is much more interesting.
Once upon a time, cheese manufacturing technology was a rather complex and lengthy process. At first, milk was fermented, and after the resulting head of cheese, it was smeared with manure and buried. Buried cheese ripened over time - months, and sometimes years. Therefore, the resulting product was of great value.
After all the measures taken, the cheese was peeled, leaving it completely vulnerable. Without additional measures, a valuable product could dry quickly. Of course, admitting this was simply blasphemy, if not death mortal sin. Therefore, the bare cheese was placed in butter, where it felt great and did not deteriorate. It is noteworthy that cheese enzymes, in turn, had a beneficial effect on oil. Here is a mutually beneficial cooperation!
As you can see, the proverbs about food are quite symbolic, and the images conveyed in these expressions are simple and understandable.