Kolach or kalach is a traditional bread found in Central and Eastern European cuisines, commonly served during various ritual meals. The name originates from the Old Slavonic word kolo (коло) meaning "circle" or "wheel". Korovai is sometimes categorised as a type of kolach.
Etymology
The name slightly varies between countries, but its general meaning originally comes from the Early Slavic root vocabulary that references the circular shape of the bread (Proto-Slavic: *kolačь, derived from "kolo"). Variants of "kolach" (Bulgarian, Macedonian, and , Polish and Silesian: kołocz, , , ) are the most commonly used forms, but "kalach" (Belarusian, Russian, and , , Polish and Silesian: kołacz) is also widespread. The is cognate with all of these.
The nouns "korovai" (, , ), "karavai" (, ), and "kravai" () are not etymologically related to "kolach", but are used as names for a very similar type of bread, one that can be savoury or sweet; in some countries, such as Poland, korowaj is considered simply a more decorative type of kolach and thus used interchangeably with kołacz.
The names and , although of the same origin as "kolach", refer to another pastry—the differently shaped cake kolach as opposed to the sweet bread. In Poland and Serbia kołacz and kolač respectively are also used as the name for different types of cakes too.
Traditions by country
Kolach and korovai pastries, as well as the customs associated with them and the way they are made, share some similarities (especially across the Slavonic nations), but various differences exist between countries and even regions within each country.
Belarus
Just like in neighbouring Ukraine and Poland, the kolach remains an important element of rural celebrations in Belarus (especially at weddings) where it is known as "калач" and "кравай". The kalach represents hospitality, future prosperity, and respect; it is often decorated with various figurines and symbolic flags. Usually served savoury, the kravai is sometimes dipped in salt.
Hungary
The Hungarian kalács (pronounced [ˈkɒlaːtʃ]) is a sweet bread very similar to brioche, usually baked in a braided form, and traditionally considered an Easter food. Until the end of the 19th century, the preparation of kalács was similar to that of everyday bread; the difference was in the shape, and in the better/quality flour used for the kalács. Nowadays kalács is prepared from dough enriched with milk and eggs. It is baked in an oven or brick oven, sometimes directly on the stones of the brick oven, or on a baking sheet.
Kalács is part of the traditional Easter menu in Hungary, often consecrated together with ham in Catholic churches. In the Szeged region at All Saints unfilled kalács was baked called All Saints' Kalács (mindenszentek kalácsa, kolduskalács = Beggar's Kalács), which was given to beggars at the gate of the graveyard. Also kalács was given to beggars praying at the graveyard's gate in Csallóköz to prevent the dead from returning. Giving kalács to beggars is the Christian form of the pagan tradition of treating the dead.
Poland
According to Sophie Hodorowicz Knab, the first known documented record of a special bread called kołacz or korowaj being served at Polish weddings (though today it can also be made for Dożynki, Christmas or Easter) dates back to the start of the 13th century, when it was already a well-known tradition on Polish lands; it was also mentioned by Zorian Dołęga-Chodakowski in his 1818 paper O Sławiańszczyźnie przed chrześcijaństwem. Ethnographic studies from the years 1970-1982 and 2003 showed that the custom of making kołacze (Polish plural of kołacz) survived, particularly in rural areas, throughout many regions of Poland; however, the specifics – such as whether the pastry was prepared at the house of the bride or that of the groom – varied across towns and villages. Some kolache come with fillings, such as white cheese and poppyseed, raisins, millet kasha and dried plum; sometimes they are topped with powdered sugar or poppyseeds. Although not always so, kołacz is often decorated (especially when served on special occasions), whereas korowaj practically always refers to an even more lavish type of kolach with common motifs like a bird's nest in the middle surrounded by braids, ears of grain, birds, conifer cones, roses, floral patterns, etc.