Ζεμπιλούδκια, Κυπρή Θ., Πρωτοπαπά Κ. (2007) 267 .
Sesame pastries in the shape of a zembili (zembili=soft wicker basket).
The zembilouthkia or syriouthkia (from the ancient spyris, zembili), are made symbolically, to bless the farmer's zebili, whilst still in the sowing season, Kypri T., Protopapa K. (2007) 267.
Name - Origin
They bake a wide variety of koullouria for the Christmas festivities, which are called sesamota as they all contain sesame seeds. Sesamota have different names depending on their shape. Zembilouthkia or syriouthkia, are made symbolically, to bless the farmer's zebili, whilst still in the sowing season, Kypri T., Protopapa K. (2007) 267.
They use a small piece of dough out of the dough they have already prepared for the larger bread (see entry Sesamota)
Functional and symbolic role
They are prepared during Christmas and Easter. On Christmas days, they also hang zembilouthkia on the walls, Kypri T., Protopapa K. (2007) 268.
They symbolise the deeper desire to have a blessed seed or sowing in general, in order for every agricultural family to be happy. Kypri T., Protopapa K. (2007) 268.
Additional information and bibliography
Kypri Th. and Protopapa K. (2007), 'Κυπριακά παραδοσιακά ζυμώματα', στο Φούρνοι και παραδοσιακά ζυμώματα στη Θράκη, το Αιγαίο και την Κύπρο (Thrace-Aegean-Cyprus Programme), Thira, 261-278.
Eleni Christou
Traditional Recipes
Sisamopittes
The recipe comes from Marathasa. Sesamopites were one of the products sold by the people of Marathasa at festivals, along with porika, nuts, shoushoukko and pastellin.
Traditional Recipes
Sisamota
These bread products were customary in all the villages of Cyprus. They were especially made at Christmas and Easter.
Foods
Sisamota
Baked products with sesame: bread, koullouria, gennópites, lehouzoúthkia, koúmoulla and others.
Foods
Traditional Christmas baking
Traditional Christmas baking includes “hristópsomo”, “gennópita” and “koulloúri” in various shapes and with different names
