August Birth Bread
Birth Bread
Pumpernickel
Pumpernickel is a traditional rye bread that has been made in the Westphalia region of Germany since around 1570. Its name allegedly derives from Middle High German 'pumper' (to break wind) and 'Nickel' (devil), incorporating folk humor about its difficult digestion. The method of using over 90% coarsely ground rye, molding it, and baking slowly at low temperature for an incredible 16-20 hours literally embodies the weight of time. This extended baking transforms the bread from deep brown to black, acquiring complex and rich flavors. Its dense texture and long preservation qualities have been treasured by Northern European peoples as wisdom for surviving harsh winters. Even today, canned pumpernickel can be preserved for two years and is adopted as combat rations by the German military. This bread is chosen for August's Obon season because it symbolizes the weight of wisdom and tradition inherited from ancestors, expressing the power to maintain value across time.
Features
- Rich, substantial texture and deep color using over 90% coarsely ground rye
- Unique method of ultra-long 16-20 hour low-temperature baking creating complex flavors
- Remarkable preservation quality and practicality, storable for 2 years when canned
- Traditional eating style of thin slicing and diverse combinations
- High nutritional value rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber
Personality
- Substantial and thoughtful, cautious character that considers matters thoroughly over long periods
- Conservative and solid presence that values tradition and cherishes ancestral wisdom
- Philosophical temperament that pursues inner depth and essence over superficial glamour
- Perseverance and mental toughness to endure patiently through difficult situations
- Permanence that withstands the test of time and unchanging reliability that never loses value
Symbolic Meaning
- Weight of history and ancestral wisdom - Valuable traditions passed down through generations
- Patience and endurance - Importance of sustained effort symbolized by long baking time
- Solid practicality and utility - Unadorned true value and deep contribution to life
- Timeless permanence - Unchanging value and stability in a rapidly changing world
- Deep richness - Inner complexity and profound taste that doesn't appear on the surface
Reason for Selection
- Resonance between the spirit of ancestral veneration during August Obon and traditional methods requiring long preparation time
- Preservation quality maintaining unchanged quality even in summer heat symbolizes immutable value
- Substance and depth expressing bonds across generations when families gather for Obon homecoming
- Temporal meaning where baking time of over 16 hours overlaps with Obon period (13th-16th)
- Agreement between depth of history shown by dark color and thoughts of the past recalled during Obon
Protection & Effects
- Grants power to protect tradition and history, and ability to utilize wisdom inherited from ancestors
- Provides long-term perspective and patience, giving mental strength to never give up in difficult situations
- Deepens insight to discern essential value without being swayed by superficial trends
- Builds stable foundation unaffected by the flow of time and unwavering convictions
- Supports a solid and practical way of life, bringing true richness and fulfillment
Trials & Growth
- Difficulty adapting to change and conservatism resistant to accepting new values or trends
- Risk of substance becoming oppressive, losing lightness and flexibility
- Tendency to reject necessary innovation or improvement due to excessive adherence to tradition
- Excessive attachment to the past impeding positive engagement with present and future
- Perfectionist nature creating length of time to completion and heaviness of burden