Kurzeme people have high self-esteem, they are rough and do not speak a lot.
Prior to baking bread, Kurzeme people bring a hod to the room to let it warm. A hod is made of a whole piece of wood by cutting it in half and carefully carving out the middle part. A hod has four "horns" or handles on both ends. There is even a puzzle - "four horns and a big stomach in the middle".
When a hod is ready one goes for flour and it is also left to warm up like the hod; if it is cold outside the flour should be duly sieved.
Chefs were taking care not to give away all the bread loaf from home, a piece of loaf was usually kept at home.
Children like it most, and it is said that the one who eats it would have white and strong teeth.
When bread dough no longer sticks to hands, a loaf is made and a big cross is pressed in it, little notches are pressed at the ends and on sides. By pressing the first line, one says: "May it not burn!" At the second one: "May it not remain raw!" Uponcrossing the ends of the cross with the index finger one says: There will be enough for poor! There will be enough for the ones on the way! There will be bread for kids! There will be enough for ourselves!
It is said that the more smooth is a loaf, the more beautiful will be the chef's children and the better mother-in-law she will have.
