Tradition has it that they were first baked by monastery bakers in the 16th Century who would mark a cross on the top of the buns on Good Friday, symbolic of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. From that followed all kinds of mythology. Hang a bun in your kitchen and your bread would by fresh all year long and it would keep away evil spirits. It was also the bun to cement a friendship according to Irish tradition. “Half for you and half for me, between us two, good luck shall be.” In my own memory I can still see my dad piping the white cross onto the buns.
Hot cross buns!
Hot cross buns!
One ha’ penny, two ha’ penny,
Hot cross buns!
If you have no daughters,
Give them to your sons
One ha’ penny,
Two ha’ penny,
Hot cross buns!