Talk:Kolach (bread)

Suggested merge
Is this article about a different thing than Kolache? —Michael Z. 2007-08-03 23:33 Z 

I'd say no. The descriptions sound very distinct.
 * It's actually the same thing. Some people make them with yeast, some people don't, but in the end it's really just variations of the same item. 65.185.185.164 17:32, 27 October 2007 (UTC)


 * No, it's not. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.150.56.38 (talk) 19:21, 28 November 2007 (UTC)


 * It's not the same thing at all. The article Kalach is actually about the Polish pastry kolaczky, which is simalar to, but distinct from the Czech and Slovak Pastry Kolache.  Kolache's are more like a kind of bread with a fruit filling similar to a pie filling, while the Polish Kolaczky is more like a cookie with a jelly like fruit filling.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.205.109.202 (talk) 03:55, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

Another suggested merge
Romanian Colaci and Hungarian Kalács seem to be the same things as Ukrainian/Russian kalach. I think these can be merged here. In contrast, Czech Kolache and Polish Kołacz seem to be different and should probably not be merged with this one. --Off-shell (talk) 19:10, 30 April 2015 (UTC)


 * Hi, Off-shell. Sorry, I know I'm a bit late here, but actually the Polish kołacz as well as the generally Slavic korowaj, likely Slavski kolač too, are all variants of the same thing! So I believe more merging is required. However, you are correct that the Czech kolach pastry is a different thing entirely - although it has more or less the same name/meaning/pronunciation, it refers to a cake (as opposed to a sweet or savoury bread) that has a completely different shape and consistency than the kolach spoken of in all these other articles. --Samotny Wędrowiec (talk) 19:59, 30 April 2022 (UTC)

Merger proposal
I propose merging Korovai into Kolach (bread). Up until recently I assumed that the word korowaj was used as a name for a more decorative variant of kołacz within the Polish context, but it seems that this is the case across most if not all languages? And even in instances where it is not, the differences between kolach and korovai appear so small and insignificant that it's hard to justify two separate articles (especially when most of it is just repeated information). Since the kolach article is longer, better sourced and in general of a higher quality, it makes sense to merge korovai into it rather than the other way around.

In the past we had a whopping 6 pages for more or less the same baked goods: kolach (bread), korovai, Slavski kolač, kołacz, kalács, colaci. Over time this has been reduced by half to kolach, korovai, and Slavski kolač. Perhaps an argument can be made to keep Slavski kolač a separate article, due to its South Slavic origin and different use for Slava as opposed to the North Slavic kolach/korovai variants that are primarily used for weddings and sometimes for Dożynki, Christmas or Easter (depending on country or region). However, there doesn't seem to be any point in keeping kolach and korovai apart. --Samotny Wędrowiec (talk) 14:48, 28 May 2022 (UTC)


 * Comment; weak oppose - There is a similarity in both the kolach and the korovai; it can be argued that one has been derived from another. However, the name itself is a reason to keep these two pages apart. From observation, a korovai is exclusively associated with the culture of the former Kievan Rus, notably Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, where it said to have originated. I am in support of merging kolach (bread) with Slavski kolač, kołacz, kalács, colaci due to the proximity of the name and origin. Any variations between countries can be delineated within that new unified article. Merangs (talk) 16:47, 29 May 2022 (UTC)


 * That makes total sense. However, despite korovai (at least under that name) most likely originating from the Kievan Rus' or its descendant peoples, it is also present in Poland. Whether this is due to it being an actual Polish tradition or just thanks to living alongside Ruthenians/Ukrainians for centuries is another matter entirely. I honestly don't know, but this is what would convince me to either keep them separate or merge. --Samotny Wędrowiec (talk) 22:23, 29 May 2022 (UTC)
 * I'd also support merging kolach and kolač. I have no opinion on korovai. Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus&#124; reply here 09:52, 19 June 2022 (UTC)
 * Weak oppose although they are both ritual breads, my understanding (possibly mistaken) is that most native Ukrainian speakers would only use the word "korovai" for a wedding bread, and would use "kolach" for Christmas and funerary breads. But I'm open to new evidence. 67kevlar (talk) 22:20, 3 February 2023 (UTC)