When you should eat hot cross buns at Easter - and origins of festive treat

Hot cross buns have long been an Easter tradition

Easter goes hand-in-hand with chocolate eggs, Easter egg hunts and, of course, hot cross buns.

Whether buttered or plain, packed with raisins, or given a chocolate twist, hot cross buns are a staple in British homes at this time of year. But do you know why they have become an Easter tradition? Or, indeed, when is the correct time to eat them?

We’ve been busy testing a whole array of supermarket hot cross buns to find this year’s winner, but before you tuck in, it’s worth knowing the rich history behind the tasty treat. Here’s everything you need to know before Easter Sunday…

When should you eat hot cross buns at Easter?

According to tradition, hot cross buns should be eaten on Good Friday. Many believe that is because they are used to mark the end of Lent; since they contain dairy products, which are traditionally forbidden during Lent – it’s a treat for all those who have passed the 40 days of sacrifice and fasting.

Others eat hot cross buns on Good Friday to mark the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, with the cross on the bun representing the crucifix, and the spices in ingredients reflecting the spices that would’ve been used in his embalming.

Why do we eat hot cross buns at Easter?

Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten over the Easter religious Christian holiday to symbolise the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday on the cross.

Thomas Rocliffe, a 14th-century monk, is widely credited as making the very first hot cross bun – named the Alban Bun – in 1361.

A sweet, fruity bake bearing a cross on top, the buns were given to the local poor on Good Friday, according to the BBC. And it so pleased the recipients that word soon spread, and efforts were made across the country to imitate these cakes.

By the 19th century, hot cross buns were commonly eaten on Good Friday to mark the end of Lent.

Interestingly, Elizabeth I banned their consumption in 1592 except on specific holidays. The embargo was eventually lifted and, by the 1700s, sweet, spicy, fruity buns were sold on the streets of towns and cities with the familiar cry of ‘one a penny, two a penny’.

Where does the name come from?

Hot cross buns are so called because of the traditional cross marked across the top. For Christians, that cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus, while the spices inside symbolise the spices put on the body of Jesus after he died. Furthermore, the buns are best served hot, hence how they received their name.

Why do hot cross buns have crosses on them?

Hot cross buns are symbolic of the day in Christianity when Jesus was crucified. Each bun is decorated with a cross made from flour paste to represent the cross on which he died.

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