Breads, Biscuits, Phyllo, and Pasta

I know of no other culture in which bread plays such an important role at all stages of people’s lives. Bread is so much linked with our existence that, instead of saying that a person is about to pass away, we say “his bread is finished” or “he has eaten all his bread.” In many parts of Greece there are special breads that are baked when a woman is expecting a baby, others to celebrate the arrival of the child, still others for the christening, for the child’s birthday, and for when a boy turns twenty-one. There are special breads for people in love; there are engagement breads, marriage breads—different ones for the bride, the groom, and the in-laws—breads for a person’s name day, breads that chase away illness, breads for the dead.