My good buddy Arline handed in March, adopted by 9 individuals I knew, in April 2026…church mates, members of the Covington group, and my first cousin. Too many gone. Life is fragile and fleeting . This can be a tribute to them, and to the many others whom I didn’t know. I used to be composing a unique column, however felt moved to honor the departed. That is for Pat M, Helen, Ed, Wendell, Dale, Evelyn, Renee’, Ken, Pat P…Could they Relaxation in Peace and Rise in Glory.
After I lived in GREECE, I realized ; in addition to a WHOLE new alphabet… (Cyrillic with solely 24 letters), a new language; an entire new life-style. It was fairly the schooling, too! N.B., I lived on a small island, accessible solely by boat, and every part, together with WATER, was introduced in by boat. The primary funeral I attended in our Greek orthodox parish church was very totally different from American funerals. I stored my eyes open to watch and obey the normal customs. There was at all times a big flat cake on a particular platter. It was bright- white, with silver nonpareils (edible cake ornament resembling silver bbs) adorning it with a cross and initials of the deceased. After the service was over, women took spots on the cake desk. With silver scoops they served up a memento-remembrance for the attendees ( a funereal celebration favor ?) A giant scoop of koliva was positioned in little brown glassine- waxed luggage, then handed out. I had no clue as to what it was, so I quietly requested, “what is that this?”… “ It’s koliva[KOH-leh-Vah’] and you might be speculated to eat it!” ( to honor the reminiscence of the departed). So, I seemed at it inquisitively; it resembled a puffy a sort of path combine with nuts and seeds)? However after I tasted it, it was a deal with to the palette. Gentle-boiled wheat berries, pomegranate seeds, raisins, powdered sugar, honey, crushed walnuts, cinnamon, lemon zest, spearmint/ parsley, sesame seeds, almonds are a lot of the elements. It’s a blessed and wholesome snack.
I appreciated it a lot that I privately instructed my Greek buddy Doti “koliva is the perfect factor about funerals !” She stated, “I agree, I find it irresistible too.” So, she painstakingly gave me the symbolism of every ingredient.
Wheat: The lifeless, the earth. The regeneration of life. Eternal life.
Pomegranate: A lot. The wonder and brightness of Paradise.
White almonds: ( often known as Jordan almonds) The bare bones and continuation of life…( because the flesh disappears, the bones resist the destruction of time).
Spices: The aromas of the earthly world.
Parsley or spearmint :The gentle inexperienced grass the place the Soul rests in peace.
Nuts: Regeneration of life.
Cinnamon: The perfume of the Christian non secular life and the blessing that accompanies an individual on the time of their dying.
Raisins: The sweetness of life.
Sugar: The sweetness of Paradise.
Silver nonpareils or dragées: Unaltered, incorrupt bones of the deceased. They symbolize the hope for resurrection and non secular purification after the physique’s put on and tear in life.
Utilizing these candies, designs can vary from easy to very ornate.
(Vines symbolize Christ)
In Greece, koliva is served on the funeral, on the 40 -day memorial, and for the final time three years later. Memorial muffins have been utilized in Greece for 1000’s of years, even earlier than Christianity. Koliva is normally made at residence, taken to the church for a blessing by the priest, as a candy providing to commemorate family members who’ve handed. Wheat berries affirm the Biblical idea {that a} grain should die to bear fruit.
Primarily based on John 12:24, the physique is buried with the hope of resurrection. Serving koliva connects the mourners to the deceased, and to one another in attendance.
In case you need to make it at residence, there are numerous variations of this recipe on the market. Search till you discover one you want or create your personal model. Actually, the one factor you must prepare dinner is the wheat, so purchase a very good model: obtainable in well being meals shops, Walmart, and grocery shops. The wheat berries take a very long time to prepare dinner, and so they have to be fully dry to make this combination, or the sugar icing will clump up, a multitude. The sugar have to be dry to be shaped. SOAK the wheat in a single day, drain, then boil for an hour, till tender (make sure that!) as it’s the tender blanket-y base .
Then, unfold the boiled wheat on a cookie sheet on a clear towel for at the very least six hours, however ideally in a single day. Oi… that’s two nights of prep already, however it’s straightforward prep. Then in a big bowl combine in wheat, seeds, nuts, raisins, pomegranate and spices. Gently fold and mix all elements collectively. In the event you actually need to really feel it, connect with your late YiaYia, use clear fingers to raise handfuls and punctiliously mix it.
Now, upon your pretty platter, tray, plate ( gold-foiled- cardboard ? ) as the bottom; place the mound of combination;… and push, pat, form it right into a circle [traditionally], or rectangle . It ought to be low and flat, one layer, about two inches excessive. Easy on high and sides. If not agency; pat with very dry breadcrumbs, then unfold on sugar as a thick white icing . Full adorning; provide to the + church +… Amen.
Carol Veliotis is a neighborhood columnist for The Covington Information. She might be reached at carol.veliotis@gmail.com.
