Oct 22, 2009: Baragami

xoxoxoBruce · 10-21-2009, 11:20 PM

Bara (noun, Welsh language) "bread"
Gami: derived from origami, the art of paper-folding or paper-sculpture.

Baragami is the ancient Welsh decorative art of "toast arranging".

Quote:

First documented in Aberystwyth, Wales, baragami involves the presentation of toast in intricate and preferably topical arrangements. Just as haiku should have a reference to the seasons, a skillful baragami endeavours to make reference to current affairs although there are a number of classical toast arrangements. An example of the "topical" aspect of baragami would be the classical "falling house" arrangement, popular after the Word Trade Center disaster. Alternatively, a concept or emotion may form the basis of the pattern.

Quote:

The actual date of origin of this nearly extinct art, prior to its rediscovery in Aberystwyth, has not been authenticated, having been lost in the mists of Plynlimon Fawr. Historians have proven that toasting bread was a common activity in Roman times: the Latin root of the word toast being "tostum", which means to scorch or burn. Early cave markings in Ogof Pant y Llyn, Dyfed illustrate that early Welsh nomads prolonged the life of bread by toasting it. Simply impaling a lump of bread on a forked stick or extended fork in front of an open fire permitted a few basic designs, but was not really conducive to the flowering of baragami as an elaborate art form. The heyday of baragami required the invention of the electric toaster (Crompton & Co, England, 1893) and the development of the machine that sliced and wrapped bread (Frederick Rohwedder, Chillicothe, Missouri, 1928) to produce the larger quantities of toast required. Early toasteddfods relied on the wives and daughters of baragamists to hand-slice large quantities of bread and toast it on racks suspended in front of a fire. The standard square loaf removed the need to trim irregular slices to a workable standard shape and size.

In spite of better slicers and toasters and even home breadmakers that allow the production of interesting textures and colours, baragami is in decline and is now practised by only a few enthusiasts. Practitioners can be found among Welsh ex-pats worldwide, but with fewer youngsters taking up the art, their numbers are dwindling. A Welsh heritage organisation are considering teaching baragami in schools alongside the Welsh language and urge the development of a computer package allowing virtual baragami, perhaps in a worldwide online community.

I'm sure you're gob-smacked by these photographs, but realize these represent only flat arrangements. The 3-D arrangements are stupefying.

link

SPUCK · 10-22-2009, 04:28 AM

Now we're jammin!

Sundae · 10-22-2009, 06:29 AM

There are very restricted opening hours for the pubs in some parts of Wales...

capnhowdy · 10-22-2009, 07:16 AM

Finally..... an IOTD that comes ready to eat.

glatt · 10-22-2009, 07:53 AM

I usually prepare my kids' waffles this way. I've cut them up into bite sized pieces since they were little, and I build card houses or bridges or something like that with syrup slathered all over everything to hold it all together. One of the more memorable recent ones was to cut the waffle into a spiral and then use a stack of other waffle pieces to prop the spiral open like a mountain with a winding road going up to the top.

boodoggy · 10-22-2009, 07:59 AM

I would expect no less from the people who give us extreme sheep herding http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw

birdclaw · 10-22-2009, 09:07 AM

Are you trying to butter me up with delicious toast pictures? Not going to work, I have a very dry sense of humor.

monster · 10-22-2009, 10:54 AM

Watch boodoggy's link, it's hysterical. can't believe i haven't seen it before

xoxoxoBruce · 10-22-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnhowdy

Finally..... an IOTD that comes ready to eat.

Yes, but I think these guys, and their affiliate the Toast Leaners Club, have their tongues planted so firmly in their cheeks, they can't chew.

ZenGum · 10-22-2009, 07:16 PM

Are you sure that isn't the Toastmasters club?

Sperlock · 10-22-2009, 09:18 PM

Heywood Banks - Toast

Cloud · 10-22-2009, 09:21 PM

um. toast? in bars?

monster · 10-22-2009, 10:38 PM

what?

xoxoxoBruce · 10-23-2009, 12:19 AM

Toast.

ZenGum · 10-23-2009, 07:17 AM

10-22-2009, 06:29 AM	#3
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	There are very restricted opening hours for the pubs in some parts of Wales... __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-22-2009, 07:16 AM	#4
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	Finally..... an IOTD that comes ready to eat. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

10-22-2009, 09:07 AM	#7
birdclaw putting the "g" in flight Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 145	Are you trying to butter me up with delicious toast pictures? Not going to work, I have a very dry sense of humor. __________________ “The difference between a man and a boy is, a boy wants to grow up to be a fireman, but a man wants to grow up to be a giant monster fireman.”

10-22-2009, 10:54 AM	#8
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Watch boodoggy's link, it's hysterical. can't believe i haven't seen it before __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart Last edited by monster; 10-22-2009 at 11:09 AM.

10-22-2009, 07:16 PM	#10
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Are you sure that isn't the Toastmasters club? __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

10-22-2009, 04:28 AM	#2
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	Now we're jammin!

10-22-2009, 07:53 AM	#5
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I usually prepare my kids' waffles this way. I've cut them up into bite sized pieces since they were little, and I build card houses or bridges or something like that with syrup slathered all over everything to hold it all together. One of the more memorable recent ones was to cut the waffle into a spiral and then use a stack of other waffle pieces to prop the spiral open like a mountain with a winding road going up to the top.

10-22-2009, 07:59 AM	#6
boodoggy Non-Newbie Sort Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6	I would expect no less from the people who give us extreme sheep herding http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw

10-22-2009, 09:18 PM	#11
Sperlock Elite Elitist Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 322	Heywood Banks - Toast __________________ Every oak tree started out as a couple of nuts who stood their ground. - Anonymous http://informationthreshold.blogspot.com, http://spiritualthreshold.blogspot.com Last edited by Sperlock; 10-22-2009 at 09:19 PM. Reason: Link instead of imbed

10-22-2009, 09:21 PM	#12
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	um. toast? in bars? __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

10-22-2009, 10:38 PM	#13
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	what? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-23-2009, 12:19 AM	#14
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Toast. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-23-2009, 07:17 AM	#15
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	__________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

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