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We are so excited to have our Hot Cross Bun Hamper available again. It’s definitely a firm favourite at this time of year and it’s here just in time to help you celebrate Easter. Before we tell you a bit more about our hamper and other easter treats, let’s look into the history behind the hot cross bun.
Hot Cross Buns have been associated with Easter celebrations since the 12th century. However, you may not know that they actually pre-date Christianity, with origins discovered in paganism. The Ancient Egyptians small round shaped breads topped with crosses to celebrate their gods. The Greeks and Romans also offered tribute to Eos, the goddess of morning, and Eostre, the goddess of light, with similar sweetened rolls. The cross represented the horns of a sacrificial ox. The English word for bun derives from the Greek word Boun, which means ceremonial bread and cakes.
In the Middle Ages, bakers used to mark their bread with crosses before baking to ensure it turned out well and to keep evil spirits from preventing a good rise. This tradition faded over time, except on Good Friday when they baked loaves and hot cross buns. A new superstition emerged where people started hanging these breads from the ceiling like sausages. They believed this would stop the bread from going mouldy and protect them from getting sick or encountering evil until the next Good Friday when they would replace the bread.
In times of sickness, people used to take a piece of bread hanging from a string, crush it into powder, and mix it with water as a remedy. Meanwhile, Jewish communities hung bread and a water container from their ceilings to keep away cholera. They thought that just one loaf in one home could protect the whole community. Early Christians cleverly timed their celebration of Christ's resurrection to coincide with the pagan Spring festival to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
In the 12th century, an English monk started a tradition by adding a cross to his buns on Good Friday, also known as the Day of the Cross. This idea caught on, and as time passed, people began adding fruits and spices to signify health and prosperity. However, spiced buns got banned when England separated from the Catholic Church in the 16th century. Yet, in 1592, Queen Elizabeth I changed her mind and allowed commercial bakers to make these buns for funerals, Christmas, and Easter. Alternatively, people could bake them at home. Bakers argued that the cross cut into the bun made it rise better in the oven, a belief held then and still believed now.
Our ever popular, Hot Cross Bun Hamper is back this Easter and it offers the perfect way to celebrate this holiday period. It can be sent to family or friends as a gift or enjoyed at home and shared with family. Filled with delicious, freshly baked Hot Cross Buns, Cornish butter, luxurious strawberry conserve, Cornish tea and some mini chocolate eggs, this hamper is sure to produce a box of delights that everyone can enjoy.
We have plenty of treats for you this Easter, many of which can be added to one of our pre-selected hampers or included in your bespoke create your own hamper.
Mini chocolates eggs supplied with a cute Easter themed Hessian bag. The perfect little treat for children of all ages.
A great addition to any of our hampers, our Hot Cross Buns are wonderfully soft, beautifully spiced, packed with the juiciest fruits and finished with a sweet and sticky glaze. You can’t beat the smell of toasted Hot Cross Buns.
Beautiful, seasonal freshly cut flowers will brighten anyone’s day. These lovely bouquets make perfect gifts and are especially wonderful at this time of year. You can add them to any of our hampers for that extra special touch.
There is plenty of choice at Devon Hampers. If you are looking for an Easter Gift, why not browse all of our Easter Hampers here.
Sources:
www.ravenhook.com/bread-blog/hot-cross-buns
www.mobile-cuisine.com/did-you-know/hot-cross-bun-fun-facts/
