 Homemade hot cross buns | |
| Type | Spiced bun |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Region or state | England |
| Main ingredients | Wheat flour, currants or raisins with spices |
A hot cross bun is a spiced bun, usually containing small pieces of raisins and marked with a cross on the top, which has been traditionally eaten on Good Friday in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, India, Pakistan, Malta, United States and the Commonwealth Caribbean.[1][2][3] They are available all year round in some countries, including the UK.[4][5]
The bun marks the end of the season of Lent and different elements of the hot cross bun each have a specific meaning, such as the cross representing the crucifixion of Jesus, the spices inside signifying the spices used to embalm him and sometimes also orange peel reflecting the bitterness of his time on the cross.[6][7]
- ^ Alexander, Deepa (10 April 2017). "Season's eatings". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Caribbean Easter meals to keep families together during covid-19 | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Hot Cross Buns, A Caribbean Easter Tradition". Global Voices. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ Rohrer, Finlo (1 April 2010). "BBC - How did hot cross buns become two a penny?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Always a good time for hot cross buns | Coles". Coles. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Turner, Ina; Taylor, Ina (1999). Christianity. Nelson Thornes. p. 50. ISBN 9780748740871.
To mark the end of the Lent fast Christians eat hot cross buns. These have a special meaning. The cross in the middle shows how Jesus died. Spices inside remind Christians of the spices put on the body of Jesus. Sweet fruits in the bun show that Christians no longer have to eat plain foods.
- ^ Fakes, Dennis R. (1 January 1994). Exploring Our Lutheran Liturgy. CSS Publishing. p. 33. ISBN 9781556735967.
Since people often gave up meat during Lent, bread became one of the staples of Lent. Bakers even began making dough pretzels--a knotted length of dough that represented a Christian praying, with arms crossed and hands placed on opposite shoulders. Hot cross buns are popular during Lent. The cross of course reminds the eater of Christ's cross.