Easter Cake “Kulich”
Happy Easter!
This used postcard featuring an illustration of a Russian Easter Bread called Kulich was published by A. Yaremenko, New York City. The identifier: A.Y. 181 – Y- 11377 is found at the bottom of the center line on the reverse. There is a written message on the divided back of the card but no addressee is named. At the upper left corner is: “Easter Cake ‘Kulich.’” The illustrator's initials "T.H." are found under the right side of the plate.
This festive cake, or bread, is baked in a tall cylindrical tin, such as a coffee or fruit juice tin. The cake, or loaf, has a white icing that drizzles down the sides and is decorated with colorful flowers, eggs, and sometimes flags as seen on the card. The cake is a type of Paska bread and is a traditional cultural part of Eastern European Orthodox Christian countries like Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, North Macedonia and Serbia.
After Easter services the kulich is blessed by the priest. Blessed kulich is eaten before breakfast each day between Easter and Pentecost. It is sometimes served with cheese paska and includes the symbol XB [Khristos voskres, “Christ is risen.” Any leftover kulich that is not blessed is eaten as dessert.
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