Food is a favorite topic for composing proverbs. Why does it become such a frequent occasion for expressing popular experience? If you look closely, it becomes clear that proverbs about food express pressing problems, without which not a single person simply could survive. Words such as "bread, porridge, kvass" are clear and familiar to everyone, and therefore the images conveyed 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 a staple on the table. Without him, the family did not sit at the table. They ate everything with bread: porridge, cabbage soup. Therefore, Russian proverbs about food cannot do without a mention of bread. 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 and water than a pie with trouble.”
Bread even when drypreserves a lot of useful vitamins and minerals. The expression "sushi crackers" means "prepare for hard times." It was dry bread that often saved peasants from starvation.
Without s alt and bread is not eaten
However, s alt was valued no less than bread. By the way, this product was considered sacred in Russia. That is why proverbs about food are often associated with s alt: “Think, don’t think, but you can’t imagine better than bread and s alt.”
In ancient times, s alt was quite an expensive product. The peasants treated her very carefully. Hence the sign: sprinkle s alt - to a quarrel. But the expression "a pood of s alt to eat" has somewhat lost its original meaning. No, it means the same as before. A pound is 16 kg, to eat a pound of s alt 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, s alt was saved, and therefore “eating a pood of s alt” meant “going through many difficulties with someone.”
Cooked porridge
Proverbs about food can't do without porridge. Porridge in the old days was called a festive treat. Many people were usually invited to the celebrations. Therefore, the preparations were very troublesome for the hostess. Hence the expression "brew porridge", symbolizing a troublesome and difficult business. But about those who refused to take part in the common cause, they said: "You can't cook porridge with him." From here it also came to “disentangle the mess”, that is, to solve complex problems. But if someone tries very hard, putting moreeffort than required, they say about it: “You can’t spoil porridge with butter.”
Like cheese in butter
Proverbs and sayings about food accurately reflect the standard of living. Few people know the history of the appearance of the expression “like cheese in butter”, 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, the technology of making cheese was a rather complex and lengthy process. First, milk was fermented, and then the resulting cheese head was smeared with manure and buried. Buried cheese matured over a long period of 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, the valuable product could dry out quickly. Of course, to allow this was simply blasphemy, if not a mortal sin. Therefore, the bare cheese was placed in oil, where it felt great and did not deteriorate. Remarkably, the enzymes in the cheese, in turn, had a beneficial effect on the butter. This is such a mutually beneficial cooperation!
As you can see, proverbs about food are quite symbolic, and the images conveyed in these expressions are simple and clear.
