The Roll Cake and the Bridal Cake of Pernambuco

A Reflection on the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Development of the Local Economy

Resumo

Tradition and modernity are central categories in the composition of this article, whose objective is to reflect on the resignification of the roll cake and the “bridal” cake in the cultural context of Pernambuco. These cakes are products that drive the local economy. The roll cake consists of a plump dough, with thin layers, filled with guava jam. However, nowadays, its original form has been modified, not only in terms of filling, but also in the way it is presented. As for the bridal cake, its dough is dark, made with wine, plums, raisins, candied fruits, other ingredients and comes in different formats. Another aspect of transformation concerns the marketing process, although these cakes are part of the menus of important cafés and restaurants in the city or are sold at street markets, traffic lights, bodegas, etc., they are currently on sale in electronic commerce. To think about the relationship between changes and permanence in the way of making or the way of marketing these delicacies is to reflect on the resignification of their use in contemporary cultural relations and to highlight the intersection of tradition with modernity. When researching about roll cake and bridal cake in Pernambuco's economic activity, it is understood that these products, although undergoing some changes, continue to be present in the daily life of the people and express the tradition of popular knowledge transmitted from generation to generation and ensure the financial support of many poor families.