Easter is almost upon us and while we’re sure you’re stocked up on Easter Eggs and have been munching on Hot Cross Buns for the last few months, do you know the significance behind these particular traditional foods?
Here are some of the traditional foods we eat at Easter and why they are significant.
Hot Cross Buns
These classic buns are believed to date back to the Saxon people who came to England in the 5th century. They believed in different Gods than the Christians who came later and so the buns were made and eaten to honour the goddess Eostre, which is where the word Easter comes from. Initially, these buns were thought to represent the moon and the cross signified the moon’s quarters. These days, the cross symbolises the crucifixion, to fit in with the Christian Easter story.
Hot Cross Buns are an enduring tradition, they were particularly popular during Tudor times in fact. What makes Hot Cross Buns unique compared to similar buns from across the world is the dough, which features dried fruits, candied peel and flavoured with mixed spice.
Simnel Cake
These cakes are a Christian invention and are traditionally eaten to mark the end of Lent. It features ingredients that are forbidden during Lent, including rich fruits, marzipan and spices. What makes Simnel Cakes stand out from other fruit cakes is the decoration, the marzipan is rolled into balls to represent the 12 disciples, minus Judas, marking another part of the Christian Easter story.
Looking for locally made Hot Cross Buns or Simnel Cake? Click here.
Roast Lamb
There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of religious connections with this one, it is just one of the meats that is in season when Easter traditionally falls. As the dates of the Easter holiday changes year to year, it can be hard to find something that is in season and therefore flavourful and fresh. Luckily, lamb is plentiful during the spring and as it signifies new life and matches both the Easter story and the season. When it comes to roast lamb, sometimes simple is best, slow cooked and served with roast potatoes and mint sauce. Yum.
Looking for local lamb? Click here.
Chocolate eggs
As you might imagine, eggs have been associated with Easter and spring throughout history, back in the first civilisations, eggs represented new beginnings, while Christians see them as being symbolic of the resurrections and the giving of eggs has long been a part of the Easter celebration. The giving of chocolate eggs began in the 1700s at the court of Louis XIV in Versailles but the manufacturing of chocolate eggs began in 1875 by Cadbury who are credited with creating the modern chocolate eggs.
