A fresh batch of newly baked Hot Cross buns on a Good Friday morn marks the nearing of Easter.  Hot Cross buns are sweet and spicy buns made with currant or raisins. with a cross on the top.The  bun is either cut on the top to make the cros or a cross is made out of pastry, icing or a flour and water mixture.

This tradition of having warm hot cross burns on Good Friday is said to have originated in England. So what made these simple buns worthy of being the traditional food of Good Friday?

The obvious connection between the buns and Good Friday is the cross on the top of the bun, but there is more to the story of the Hot Cross buns. There are two legends that revolve around the association of Hot Cross buns and Good Friday. The first one dates back to the 12^th century when a monk baked a batch of buns and placed a cross on them to honor Good Friday and asked everyone to eat only buns for that day.

The second legend is more interesting and touching. This legend tells about an English widow who sends her son to the sea after promising him to make him a batch of Hot Cross Buns every Good Friday. The son never returned but she continued baking the buns and putting them up in the bakery window in the faith that he will come back. After the old widow passed away the villagers kept the tradition going

Did you know that many believe that the Hot Cross Buns baked on Good Friday will not mould. Also, it is believed that if you hang these buns in your kitchen, then they will protect the kitchen against fires and insure that all the breads turn out perfectly. Looks like I desperately need to bake some hot cross buns, but who will guarantee that the first batch will come out well!

Image Credit

http://betsy-niederer-miniature-food-igma-fellow.com

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com

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