Hot cross bun time soon

Press, 25 February 1986, Page 13

Hot cross bun time soon

Easter is approaching and two things we associate with that time of the year—in a commercial sense—are hot cross buns and colourfully wrapped eggs. One tale associated with the early eating of sweet buns decorated with crosses dates back to times when pagans worshipped a goddess—whom they called the Queen of

Heaven—with tiny cakes, a tradition that still remains in Mexico.

Eggs dyed with bright colours and symbolising life have been a tradition since the beginning of man. Easter eggs are given as gifts in many countries of the world. Coloured eggs were used in the spring celebrations of the ancient Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, and

Romans.

Rolling eggs on one’s front lawn is another custom—the Easter Egg roll on the White House Lawn in Washington is famous. In 1921, during the Administration of President Harding, the gates opened at nine in the morning and remained open until five in the afternoon. No adults were allowed into the grounds unless accom-

panied by a child and 300,000 eggs were rolled down the hill. In Sweden at Easter children receive gifts of marzipan, chocolate rabbits, and candied eggs. Portugal has an Easter cake called Folar, round and flat with sugar-sweet-ened dough and decorated with hard-boiled eggs. In some parts of Germany hand-painted eggs have traditional patterns that have been passed down through generations. Sometimes an old verse is printed carefully on the eggs.

The art of painting eggs in some parts of Germany is passed on from mother to daughter. As well as giving foilwrapped chocolate eggs to friends and family this year, why not practise hand-painting eggs now—with permission of courseso that you can give freshly hand-painted eggs as personal gifts at Easter. -