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“No one really knows how the
kransekae came about or indeed why it is so popular, but one story that is doing
the rounds states that it all began in Greece. The kransekake as we know it
derives form a similar cake called overflødighetshorn, (horn of plenty) as it
is basically a kranskake made out of rings but laid on its side to form a hollow
horn and filled with chocolate and sweets. So why Greece, well Crete actually.
The myth has it that the nymph Amalthea, raised Zeus (the God) in a cave and fed
him goat milk. As thanks, she received the horn of abundance from Zeus where all
her wishes came true. A horn was chosen, as the symbol from the goat horn, from
the animal that had given Zeus his milk. From this time on the 'horn of plenty'
was born and became a symbol of abundance, fruitfulness and fertility around the
world. From historical references and paintings it would appear that the horn of
plenty, otherwise known as, cornucopia, first started to make its appearance as
food around the mid 1700s. And it was here that the kranskake has its origins.
Whatever the true story, the appearance of this cake in Norway and Denmark too
is wide spread.”
[ref.
Eclectic
Home and Life (Kransekake - Norwegian 'Wreath' Celebration Cake)] |
