In many Slavic rituals, bread and salt are widely used as a symbol of hospitality and well-being. Salt is attributed to a special miraculous power. It was used to treat people and animals, it was worn on the chest in an amulet as a talisman. Unique salt can be consecrated only once a year, but it is used throughout the year, as it does not lose its properties.
Instructions
Step 1
This unusual product is prepared on Holy Thursday of Holy Week, but in every region of Russia it is different. Some believe that it is enough to consecrate ordinary salt in the church; others that salt should be left in front of the icons overnight; still others, that salt should be collected “from three houses,” that is, go around three different houses and ask the owners for salt. The most popular is the method of roasting salt on coals or in a Russian stove. Especially when it happens with various additives: with aromatic herbs or leavened milk. This salt is also called "black salt", because after processing at high temperatures, it turns black.
Step 2
You can consecrate salt at home. Do this on Thursday night or early Thursday morning at sunrise.
Step 3
Salt with herbs and rye bread. Chop dried herbs: dill, mint and oregano. Soak rye or Borodino bread in water. Mix everything thoroughly with salt, put in a cast iron dish and bake in a preheated oven. Keep the mass until it turns black. Then cool, chop thoroughly and pour into any dry dish with a lid. To prepare 1 kilogram of salt, you will need 3-4 handfuls of various dry herbs and 4-5 loaves of bread.
Step 4
Salt with leavened grounds. Mix the coarse, non-iodized salt with the leavened milk, which remains after fermentation of the wort. Leaven should be 4 times more than salt. The resulting mass is calcined in the oven in the same way as in the first method. You can use this salt instead of regular salt.
Step 5
Salt with oatmeal. This will require 3 packs of oatmeal. Soak the flakes for 30 minutes in cool water, then drain the water, and mix the "rolled oats" with salt. You need to bake until smoke appears. In the old days, this method was usually used in monasteries.
Step 6
After the salt has been put in the oven, the prayer "Our Father" should be recited 3 times. You should not microwave the quaternary salt.
Step 7
During the festive service, consecrate the prepared salt along with eggs and Easter cakes. If it is not possible to consecrate it in the church, in any case, it is very useful for health. The fact is that when calcined, its chemical composition changes: the amount of sodium chloride decreases, and the content of magnesium and potassium increases. In addition, kvass, bread and oat tar are rich in iodine, calcium, copper and zinc.
