Does anyone know of any references to marzipan in folklore - or any symbolism associated with it?

I'll explain later why I'm asking. Thanks.


Lenona.

Lemonade, as much as I read and have read, nope, never come across any references.

N.

wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> Does anyone know of any references to marzipan in folklore - or any
> symbolism associated with it?
>
> I'll explain later why I'm asking. Thanks.
>
>
> Lenona.

Plenty in the Brothers Grimm. Symbolizm was 'rich' for the most part
but sometimes shifted to 'fool and waste'.

Carol

--

On Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 8:25:17 PM UTC-4, cshenk wrote:

>
> Plenty in the Brothers Grimm. Symbolizm was 'rich' for the most part
> but sometimes shifted to 'fool and waste'.

Er, explain?

I don't remember hearing of marzipan in THOSE stories...

Anyway, I asked because the popular fantasy novelist/poet/screenwriter Robert Nathan once mentioned it - about 60 years ago - as having a certain connection...to witches! (He said that's what they eat.) I'm guessing he just made that up, but I wanted to ask.


Lenona.

On 6/12/2016 8:22 PM, Nancy2 wrote:
> Lemonade, as much as I read and have read, nope, never come across any references.
>
> N.
>

Spell check on auto?

On 6/12/2016 5:45 PM, wrote:
> On Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 8:25:17 PM UTC-4, cshenk wrote:
>
>>
>> Plenty in the Brothers Grimm. Symbolizm was 'rich' for the most part
>> but sometimes shifted to 'fool and waste'.
>
> Er, explain?
>
> I don't remember hearing of marzipan in THOSE stories...
>
> Anyway, I asked because the popular fantasy novelist/poet/screenwriter Robert Nathan once mentioned it - about 60 years ago - as having a certain connection...to witches! (He said that's what they eat.) I'm guessing he just made that up, but I wanted to ask.
>
>
> Lenona.
>

No, I think they eat Nutella.

On 12/06/2016 6:21 PM, wrote:
> Does anyone know of any references to marzipan in folklore - or any symbolism associated with it?
>
> I'll explain later why I'm asking. Thanks.
>
>
> Lenona.
>
Known as "marchpane" in Medieval times.

On 6/12/2016 8:21 PM, wrote:
> Does anyone know of any references to marzipan in folklore - or any symbolism associated with it?
>
> I'll explain later why I'm asking. Thanks.

I don't know if this helps you:

http://www.niederegger.de/epages/Nie...ObjectID=10102

nancy

On 6/12/2016 8:50 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 6/12/2016 8:22 PM, Nancy2 wrote:
>> Lemonade, as much as I read and have read, nope, never come across any
>> references.

> Spell check on auto?

(laugh!) I was thinking if I read upthread I'd find out why
Nancy is talking about lemonade.

nancy

> wrote in message
...
> Does anyone know of any references to marzipan in folklore - or any
> symbolism associated with it?
>
> I'll explain later why I'm asking. Thanks.
>
>
> Lenona.

It was in The Nutcracker.

"Sqwertz" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 12 Jun 2016 17:21:03 -0700 (PDT), wrote:
>
>> Does anyone know of any references to marzipan in folklore - or any
>> symbolism associated with it?
>>
>> I'll explain later why I'm asking. Thanks.
>
> Marzipan Pigs. I have a few of them. I bought them on liquidation
> because I thought they were cool and unusual.
>
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/sqwert...ream/lightbox/
>
> Then I got to thinking they must have a purpose because they were just
> too odd. So I looked them up and sure enough - lot of symbolism behind
> them, most notably in Germany:
>
> http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/u...ksbringer.html
>
> -sw

Hmmm... I only know of peppermint pigs.

Ja, Spellcheck is wunnerful, isn't it? I usually proofread, but missed this.
Sometimes what it comes up with is hilarious.

N.

On Sun, 12 Jun 2016 22:01:23 -0500, Sqwertz >
wrote:

>On Sun, 12 Jun 2016 17:21:03 -0700 (PDT), wrote:
>
>> Does anyone know of any references to marzipan in folklore - or any symbolism associated with it?
>>
>> I'll explain later why I'm asking. Thanks.
>
>Marzipan Pigs. I have a few of them. I bought them on liquidation
>because I thought they were cool and unusual.
>
>https://www.flickr.com/photos/sqwert...ream/lightbox/
>
>Then I got to thinking they must have a purpose because they were just
>too odd. So I looked them up and sure enough - lot of symbolism behind
>them, most notably in Germany:
>
>http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/u...ksbringer.html
>
>-sw

Hehe, a spitten image of the dwarf! LOL

Years ago when working for Barton's Bonbonaire they sold a magnificent
collection of hand made marzipan figurines all made in Switzerland

On Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 9:14:00 PM UTC-4, Nancy Young wrote:

>
> I don't know if this helps you:
>
> http://www.niederegger.de/epages/Nie...ObjectID=10102


Very nice, thanks. Even though there was no mention of any symbolism.

Specifically, Robert Nathan mentioned it - only briefly - in his haunting fantasy picture book for kids under 8(?), "The Snowflake and the Starfish."

From the New York Times review in 1959:

The Ordinary Is Priceless; THE SNOWFLAKE AND THE STARFISH. By Robert Nathan.. Illustrated by Leonard Weisgard. 68 pp.

"This fairy-tale tells of a lonely sea-witch, a melancholy and neurotic sprite, who, having no children of her own, determines to have someone else's: Vicky Doyle and her brother Little Thomas, whom she has spied playing on the beach. One night, by means of a spell, the sea-witch lures the children from their beds and takes them with her on an underwater tour of the seven seas."

I don't know if that's the entire article or not. The writer of the article is listed as Elizabeth H. Enright, who might NOT be the same as the 1938 Newbery-winning writer, since her middle initial doesn't make sense.

The illustrator, Caldecott Medalist Leonard Weisgard, will have his 100th anniversary this December - but that was ALREADY celebrated this spring, for weeks, at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA. (That museum currently has the illustrations of Louis Darling on display until late November - he already had his 100th anniversary this spring and was known for illustrating Beverly Cleary's books and "Silent Spring.")

"The Snowflake and the Starfish" only has one color, IIRC, in the illustrations, besides B&W - teal. It takes place in a rural beach area somewhere near Santa Monica.


SPOILERS:


From "Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books" :

Knopf, 1959. "A fantasy about two small children who are aware that a sea-witch is pursuing them; they agree to go with her to play, but don't know that the sea-witch wants them in her power. The girl wants a star or a private snowflake more than anything in the world - until she is away from home and realizes that she'd rather have breakfast with her family than any exotic possession. (All her little brother wants is a private snake). The tale is rather drawn out, and much of the appeal is to the adult; there is some humor and there are some beautifully written passages, but the story is, on the whole, rather precious. End papers and illustrations are lovely, executed in cool, watery blues and greens and depicting chiefly marine scenes and motifs. The interest level is not congruous with sentence complexity and literary style."



And, from http://authorrobertnathan.com/projec...lake-starfish/

(this was posted in August of 2012)

"A lonely SEA-WITCH keeps watch over two children young VICKY and her brother LITTLE THOMAS as they walk along the beach. Before going to bed one night, Vicky clings to her piggy bank, which she calls her 'hope chest,' as the two children make wishes. The next morning they come true, thanks to a spell from the Sea-Witch. Later, after the children are finished playing in the sand, Little Thomas forgets his sand pail. The Sea-Witch brings it back to her sea cave as it is important for her to have something that belongs to the children if she ever hopes to gain power over them. That night the Sea-Witch casts a spell which wakes the terrified children. They make a run for it with the Sea Witch in pursuit. The children find a hiding place, and the frustrated Sea-Witch begins to cry. The children take pity on her and reveal themselves, offering a comforting hug. The Sea- Witch explains that she wont do them any harm . she simply wants to play with them! This sounds exhilarating to the children so they accompany the Sea-Witch on a fantastic journey into the sea in a chariot drawn by twelve magnificent sea horses with the promise of seeing sunken treasures, exotic fish, and pirate ships galore. Little Thomas is excited, but Vicky is cautious and for good reason. The Sea-Witchs true motive is to keep the children for herself. If she can seduce Vicky with promises of riches in return for her 'hope chest,' she will have power over her forever. Surprisingly, every time the Sea-Witch offers Vicky something extraordinary, like gold doubloons, or beautiful pearls, Vicky refuses. She instead cherishes the things she already has, like the comfort of her parents, her favorite rice pudding and her mothers good night kiss. Once the Sea-Witch realizes that riches will never seduce Vicky, she sadly brings the children home. With that, she gives Little Thomas a hug, kisses Vicky on the cheek, and waves goodbye. Many years later, it is said that any time someone kisses Vicky, it feels like a 'breath from the sea.' "
_______________________________________

€œThe enchanting musical spells and the supple, graceful style have great beauty when read aloud. A beauty that is akin to that of Hans Christian Andersen, though happier in mood€¦ It is truly a little master piece.€�

M.S. Libby
NewYork Herald Tribune


And another review:

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1...l-from-the-sea


Lenona.

To Squertz:

Thanks, though I already knew that pigs, per se, are symbols of good luck among people of Celtic descent. (In many Celtic stories, for starters, swineherds become kings. Also, while in the Czech Republic, I received a gift of a tiny clay pig in a basket - the whole thing was half the size of your fist.) There wasn't any mention of marzipan having any symbolism.


Lenona.