Do you like it when traditions are changed?

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Hot cross buns are a traditional treat here at Easter, and have been for 800 years or more. The soft, lightly-spiced and fruity buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday as a treat at the end of Lent (the period leading up to Easter when Christians used to fast - or at least cut out meat, fish and dairy produce) for 40 days, representing the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. Each bun has a pale cross marked on its glossy brown top. When I was a child we ate hot cross buns over the Easter period. Since then though they have been becoming available for longer and longer periods, appearing in the shops sooner and sooner after Christmas. Nowadays I think they are probably available year round. And now more and more of all sorts of variations are appearing. The last couple of years I noticed chocolate chip ‘hot cross buns’ and this year I have seen a whole slew of different types – red velvet, chocolate chip, triple chocolate, St Clements (fruity orange flavour), and now even cheese and chutney, among others! No doubt a chocolate bun or a cheese and chutney one may be tasty, but as far as I’m concerned it isn’t a hot cross bun. A hot cross bun is made with fruit and spices. If it’s made to a different recipe it’s something else What do you think of this metamorphosis? All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2023.