Hot cross bun
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A hot cross bun is a type of sweet spiced bun made with currants and leavened with yeast. It has a cross on the top which might be made in a variety of ways: it could be pastry, made from a simple flour and water mixture, cut from rice paper and glazed onto the bun, iced, or simply cut into the bun itself.
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[edit] History
In many historically Christian countries, the buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of the crucifixion. Their ingredients mean that people who are following lent are able to eat them as they traditionally contain no eggs or dairy products. They are believed by some to pre-date Christianity, though there is no original evidence for a pagan origin, and the first recorded use of the name Hot Cross Bun is not until 1733. According to food historian Elizabeth David, the buns were seen by Protestant English monarchs as a dangerous hold over of Catholic belief in England, being baked from the consecrated dough used in making the communion wafer. Protestant England attempted to ban the sale of the buns by bakers but they were too popular, and instead Elizabeth I passed a law permitting bakeries to sell them, but only at Easter and Christmas.
[edit] Other versions
In Australia recently a chocolate version of the bun has become popular. They generally contain the same mixture of spices but cocoa is added to the dough and chocolate chips are used instead of currants. This is most likely due to the close association between Easter and chocolate and because many people do not like dried fruit, especially mixed peel.
[edit] News stories
Around Easter 2003, the Daily Telegraph among other newspapers, reported that several local authorities in England (in particular Tower Hamlets Borough Council) had banned schools serving hot cross buns on the grounds of political correctness, believing the symbol of the cross could be offensive to non-Christians.[1] This step was widely condemned, most vocally by Ann Widdecombe. As one of the cited councils, the City of York issued a statement[2] making clear that although the buns were not being served in their schools this year, this was in fact for "no particular reason".
[edit] Music
Hot Cross Buns is also a simple song for teaching basic notes for learning various instruments. It developed out of a English street cry of bakers hawking their products.
There are two versions of the tune. The simple version is played with the sequence A,G,F whilst the original more musical version uses the notes A,A,D, where the second A is one octave lower than the first.
(The "ha'" is pronounced "hay")
- Hot cross buns,
- Hot cross buns,
- one ha' penny,
- two a penny,
- hot cross buns.
- If you have no daughters,
- give them to your sons,
- one ha' penny,
- two a penny,
- Hot Cross Buns
Alternative lyrics are:
- Hot cross buns,
- One ha' penny buns,
- One ha' penny,
- Two a penny,
- Hot cross buns.
- Fresh, sweet buns,
- Come and buy my buns,
- One ha' penny,
- Two a penny,
- Fresh, sweet buns.
- Nice, light buns,
- Buy my currant buns,
- Come and try them,
- Then you'll buy them,
- Nice, light buns
- Hot cross buns,
- Hot cross buns,
- Everybody loves hot cross buns.
[edit] Trivia
The Old Bunn House in Pimlico, London is mentioned by Jonathan Swift in his Journal to Stella (1712). It was a favorite of both George II and George III. This house, while quite a popular establishment in the 19th century, no longer stands.
[edit] References
- ^ Hastings, Chris, Elizabeth Day. "Hot cross banned: councils decree buns could be 'offensive' to non-Christians", Daily Telegraph, 2003-03-16. Retrieved on January 21, 2007.
- ^ Council Hits Out at School Buns Ban Claim. Retrieved on February 23, 2007.
