Roti buaya is a Betawi two piece sweetened bread in the shape of crocodile

Crocodile

A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...

. Roti buaya is always present in traditional Betawi wedding ceremonies.

History

Before the arrival of the Europeans who introduced bread, the crocodile made ​​from cassava

Cassava

Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...

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Symbolism

The Betawi believe that crocodiles mate with only one partner; therefore, the bread is believed to represent the fidelity

Fidelity

"Fidelity" is the quality of being faithful or loyal. Its original meaning regarded duty to a lord or a king, in a broader sense than the related concept of fealty. Both derive from the Latin word fidēlis, meaning "faithful or loyal"....

of married couples. During the wedding, the bread on the bride's side is noticed by the guests and the condition of the bread is considered to represent the groom's character. Crocodiles have traditionally been considered to be very patient. Besides fidelity, the bread also represents economic establishment. However, in modern culture the symbolism of the crocodile has changed. A crocodile can refer to bad things, such as in buaya judi (someone who likes to gamble), buaya minum (someone who likes to drink alcoholic beverages) and buaya darat (an unfaithful person).