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Hot Cross Buns are a traditional staple of Easter dinner tables in the UK but where do these buns come from and why do we eat them?

What are hot cross buns?

A hot cross bun is a sweet spiced bun made with raisins or currants with a sugary glaze and a white cross marked on top of it.

A 12th-century monk introduced the cross to the bun.

The origins of hot cross buns may go back as far as the 12th century. According to the story, an Anglican monk baked the buns and marked them with a cross in honour of Good Friday. Over time they gained popularity, and eventually became a symbol of Easter weekend.

Easter

The eating of hot cross buns marks the end of Lent because they are made with dairy products which are forbidden during this period. Plain buns are traditionally eaten hot or toasted during Lent, beginning on Shrove Tuesday and through to Good Friday.