Basic HTML Version
21
an earthly creature to a spiritual being; doves
symbolise purity; camels symbolise patience
and endurance; olive tree leaves convey peace
and serenity. Ms. Voskaridou has pursued an in-
depth study of the symbolism of Cypriot bread
decorations, from direct testimonies from eld-
erly women who still practice traditional bread
baking in the villages of Cyprus and in the work
of other ethnographers and researchers. All of
this fascinating ethnographic material can be
found alongside exceptional photographs by
Vassos Stylianou in the book,
To Ploumisto
Psomi tis Kyprou
(
Cyprus Decorated Bread
,
published by Nostos Publications).
Bread: Its Social Role
In a video presentation about the history of tra-
ditional decorated bread in Cyprus, visitors to
the museum are reminded of the social aspect of
bread making and consumption. In the villages
of Cyprus, bread making was a team project.
Neighbourhood women would join forces and
prepare their breads together, either common ta-
ble bread or exquisitely decorated bread.
The word “company” comes from the Latin
“co” and
pani
(bread) – company is a group of
people sharing the same bread, while the Greek
words
sintrofos
(comrade) and
sintrofia
(com-
pany or gang) refer to people sharing the same
food. Gathering around the table was always a
sacred procedure for local society, and the pres-
ence of bread on the table used to symbolise the
presence of Christ himself. Diners respected
the bread on the table; no one was permitted
to leave the table before the bread was first re-
moved by the housewife.
So Much More than Just a Gallery
For pre-arranged visits by organised groups,
the museum is equipped to provide a bread
decorating workshop or a traditional Cyprus
breakfast or even a full bread-based dinner
based on traditional bread recipes, olives and
olive products, local cheeses, herbs and wine.
Traditional dinners are of course accompanied
by music and wine.
To Ploumisto Psomi
is a young organisation de-
voted to the study and preservation of the oldest
of man’s habits and activities. The museum is a
contemporary organisation in terms of its opera-
tional policies and procedures, yet its heart is in
the past, which it recreates and examines in the
present in order to secure its future.
To Ploumisto
Psomi
brings visitors face to face with their past,
with their roots, in a serene environment, one
that provides superb interactive educational pro-
grammes. A visit to the museum is a pragmatic
experience – it is far more than just a simple,
pleasant walk through a beautifully set gallery.
Not Just a Boring Old Museum
To Ploumisto Psomi
is meant to be a living organ-
ism. It is not a fusty institution where the exhibits
are locked away and carefully kept for occasional
visits by the curious or the bored. The museum
means for visitors to not just see the exhibits, but
to play around with them, like puppies; for visi-
Agriculture Minister Sophocles Aletraris at the symposium
Dorita Voskaridou hands out some of her delicious creations