First, we learn how those living in the Iberian Peninsula at least 1,000 years before Christ acquired wheat cultivation and sheep herding from Syria and Egypt;  we also learn that by the 15th century wheat bread held a central place in Europeans' lives. Wheat held enormous importance for those Spaniards who migrated to the Americas because in 1504 a disastrous grain harvest had struck the peninsula;  Creoles maintained a European cuisine whenever possible, but some hybrid products developed, such as "tortillas de harina" (wheat tortillas) in the North of New Spain, but most importantly, a moralistic discourse developed among the Creoles about the superiority of wheat to the Indigenous corn (now we know that to be SO NOT TRUE). Racial boundaries where enforced by one's food preferences. European cuisine (bread especially) turned into a status symbol;  Pilcher also alludes to the early colonial association of bakers to deviant behavior (thus the jokes we have referenced above have a long trajectory); Lewd songs and dances about panes y panaderos were popular in the 18th Century --and so it goes-- such a fascinating read.

 

In a wonderful book that reached my hands via el regalo de una buena amiga, "Cancionero Gastronomico de Mexico," I found many Coplas, Poems, and Songs about bread....(some are for Adults only). Here's a sample of these goodies:

 

1) A poem from Oaxaca:

 

Alevantate companero

alevantate sin pensar,

que son las once y media

y ese pan se va a entregar;

cuatro reales de cocoles

y una semita de a real

 

2) Una Copla de Doble Sentido

 

La mujer del panadero

ya anda pidiendo el divorcio;

se busca uno jovencito,

para meterlo de socio,

porque el marido es viejito

y no le atiende el negocio.

 

3) A Children's Rhyme

 

Pan, pan, panadero,

A como es el pan?

A veinte el de dulce

y a diez el de sal

 

4) A fabulous song playing with the names of the panes by the extraordinary songwriter of the people Chava Flores, gran maestro del Albur Mexicano (the names of the panes are in red)

 

Concha divina, preciosa chilindrina

de trenza pueblerina, me gustas al...ahamar

ven dame un bisquet de siento en boca y lima,

chamuco  sin harina, pambazo de agua y sal

 

La otra semana te vi muy campechana

pero hoy en la ma�ana panque me ibas a dar;

deja esos cuernos para otros polvorones

que solo son picones de novia en un volcan.