Hot Cross Buns are a tasty pastry made from yeast dough that are usually a bit sweet, often contain some spices (such as cinnamon) and may be found with additions such as raisins, currants or other dried fruits. People like these baked sweet rolls so much that they actually have their own dedicated National Food Day, celebrated annually on September 11, which is kind of odd, considering that they have always been so closely associated with the Easter season.
Although hot cross buns pre-date Christianity, these tasty little sweet treats have been historically only eaten on Good Friday as a Christian symbol of the crucifixion, marking the end of the religious season called Lent. Some bakers like to carve the cross symbol right into the dough, and some more modern variations on the recipe prefer to top them with a frosting cross instead.
The history of Hot Cross Buns is a bit difficult to trace, as a few different theories of its origins exist. One story goes that a 13th century Anglican monk baked these buns to share with others, and marked them with a cross in honor of Good Friday. They may not have yet contained the sweetness and gentle spices that are now enjoyed in them today, but this is likely where they got their start.
By the 16th century, these buns had gently made their way to Elizabethan England, where in order to keep them sacred the queen actually passed a law limiting the sale of the buns to Christmas, funerals and the Friday before Easter. The law was too difficult to enforce, however, and was eventually rescinded, making it legal to bake and eat Hot Cross Buns any time of the year–which was great news for lovers of this little treat.
Some people who were highly superstitious believed that these buns had medicinal or healing powers. Some even believed that the buns baked on Good Friday would never go stale (or at least for the first year). Others thought that Hot Cross Buns baked especially on this day could be hung from the rafters in an effort to ward off evil spirits. Others spoke of these magical buns protecting sailors from shipwrecks while on sea voyages.
In any case, whether they have actual spiritual powers or their powers are limited to simply making the mouth water in anticipation of eating them, these little buns have a fun history that continues to bring enjoyment today.
Even though it’s traditional to eat them on Good Friday, in many places Hot Cross Buns are now widely available and eaten throughout the various seasons of the year. So, whether you bake some or buy some, try a Hot Cross Bun today!
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