Like all holidays, Easter has its own traditions. One of the most popular traditions is the baking of Hot Cross Buns. Good Friday is the only day on which the buns are made. The buns represent a number of different aspects of Easter, such as friendship, medicinal and religious aspects. The buns are associated with the observance of Good Friday by Guyanese of Christian background; however, they are enjoyed by Guyanese of all backgrounds.
Delicious Hot Cross Buns – Photo By Lausanne Morgan, U.S. Air Force – http://www.lakenheath.af.mil/; gallery; exact source, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10215785
What are Hot Cross Buns?
A traditional hot cross bun is a sweet, baked bun that is lightly spiced and may contain small amounts of fruits like raisins and currants. These buns are typically marked on top with a cross that is now either piped in icing/ frosting. Traditionally the cross was engraved into the dough before baking or a simple paste of water and flour was used.
History of Hot Cross Buns
The Hot Cross Bun is said to have been invented in the twelfth (12th) century when a monk who baked them in celebration of Good Friday marked them with a cross. The cross on the buns is said to represent the crucifixion of Jesus. From there, the buns gained popularity and became a speciality dish of the Easter Celebration weekend. Near the end of the 16th century when England was ruled by Queen Elizabeth I, she passed a law stating that the buns could only be sold for burials, the Friday before Easter and Christmas. This law was passed because the Queen felt the buns were too sacred and special to be eaten any other day. The punishment for disobeying the law was that the individuals had to donate all of the forbidden product to the poor. Instead of mass production and also as a way to get around the law, more and more people began baking these buns at home. This lead to them not only growing in popularity, but the law became too difficult to enforce and was eventually repealed.
Tradition and Beliefs of Hot Cross Buns
There were many beliefs of Hot Cross Buns baked on Good Friday. A number of persons believed that they were baked on Good Friday for superstitious reasons. While many persons claim they can heal ill persons, others state that hanging the buns from the rafters of a home would ward off evil spirits in the coming year, they also protect sailors at sea and those who share a hot cross bun would enjoy a strong friendship bond for the next year. It was also believed that Hot Cross Buns baked on Good Friday would last the entire year and would not spoil.
Interesting Tip
- Eating of hot cross buns marks the end of Lent because they are typically made with dairy products, forbidden during this period of fasting.
Hot Cross Buns – Guyanese Style
Ingredients
- 1 lb flour
- 1 oz instant yeast
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 tsp sugar
- 2 oz lard or margarine
- ½ – ¾ pt lukewarm milk
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 2 oz currants
For Glaze:
- 1tbs butter
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tbsp sugar
Method
- Sift the flour into a bowl.
- Add spice, salt and 3tsp sugar to the bowl with flour. Mix.
- Rub the lard or margarine into the mixture.
- Add the currants.
- Add yeast.
- Add the milk, slowly mixing to a soft dough.
- Knead the dough well until it is smooth and elastic.
- Put to rise until it is twice its size. (About 45 minutes)
- Knead and shape into buns.
- Flatten slightly and make a deep cross on top with a knife;
- Allow to rise again for 15 minutes.
- Bake in a hot oven for about 20 minutes, lowering the heat a bit after 5 minutes.
- Heat a pan and add the sugar, butter and water. Boil glaze until it begins to thicken, remove and set aside for later.
- Remove buns from the oven.
- Rub over with glaze.
- Best served warm.
Interesting Tips:
- The Hot Cross Buns can be served with butter, cheese, peanut butter or jam.
- Chocolate icing can also be used to fill in the cross on the bun.
About Hot Cross Buns
The tradition of baking Hot Cross Buns is still being kept in many Christian homes in Guyana during the Easter Weekend. The buns are made for their home use and distributed to close friends and family. Many bakers across the country also produce a large number of buns since not only is there a demand for them from the Christian community, but also persons of other religious backgrounds. Whether you are celebrating Easter, a special occasion or you simply feel a craving for hot cross buns, follow our recipes above for an easily made delight.
Article References
- http://guyanachronicle.com/2018/03/31/hot-cross-buns-recipe
- https://www.realniceguyana.com/recipes/hot-cross-buns/
- https://www.thekitchn.com/heres-why-we-eat-hot-cross-buns-at-easter-holiday-traditions-at-the-kitchn-217463
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/five-great-myths-about-hot-cross-buns-traditional-pre-easter-pastry-180951130/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_cross_bun
- https://guyanatimesgy.com/the-magic-of-guyana-cross-buns/
- https://home.bt.com/lifestyle/food/food-latest/why-do-we-eat-hot-cross-buns-at-easter-11364248427118
Last Updated: 2020-06-27
