מקורות למנהגים

Part 1 1) Eating seven-layer *cake. 2) Getting high by eating *cake laced with saffron 3) Throwing down apples from the Shul roof 4) Wearing face masks 5) Eating milk & honey 6) Eating a four-cornered Challah 7a) Young children are brought to Shul early       in the morning wrapped in a coat. 7b) They are fed honey - honey*cake - an egg. 1) Seven-layer Cake The Minhag in many German Kehilos was to bake for שבועות a seven-layer cake for the seven weeks we counted. The Sefer יוסף אומץ ס' תתנ"ד writes the Minhag was to make a kugel in the shape of a seven-rung ladder. The reason for it is because, during  Matan Torah, Hashem tore open all 7 heavens to show that אין עוד מלבדו.

מנהגים שנמצאים בכל בו The כל בו writes that "the מנהג בכל ישראל* is to eat on שבועות, Matzah with Saffron".The Chok Yaakov O. Ch.494 has a girsa “עוגה” (cake) instead of Matzah. The כל בו gives the reason " because it is משמח את הלב (brings joy to the heart)." Saffron has an ancient history of use as a drug.It has a narcotic effect similar to opium. Saffron contains compounds that stimulate the production hormones that help with feelings of calm and happiness. (Google) 5-6) The כל בו also writes of the Minhag to eat on Shavuos, milk & honey (Torah is likened to milk & honey) and to bake a  Challah with four corners (looks like two)  to remind us of the שתי הלחם or it symbolizes "twins" (מזל סיון תאומים)

חק יכקב או"ח תצ"ד