The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1907-08-07
THE HOT CROSS BUN
Two THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN
OF ITS MARKING.

I'M cakes.
Who would think of the pretzeI os an
astronomical symbol or the hot cross
bun as a missionary document? Yet 1t
Is said that originally the one was In.
tended to represent tho sun and the
four seasons and the other to convert
pagan England to Christianity. The
former is declared to have been first
made by the Romans, who called 1t
the annulus-a word they are said to
have formed out Of annus, a yearly
which they meant a year ring. The ring
represented the suns annual circuit
and the four spokcs the seasons. 1t
was aftcrward known under other
names In the more northerly countries
OF Europe. There are two stories Of
the origin Of the hot cross bun. The
Christian missionaries to England are
said to have discovered that, although
they could alter the views of the peo-
pie on religious matters, they could not
induce them to abandon their time
hOnorcd pagan customs. One Of these
was tho eating Of a certain kind Of
cake in honor Of the Goddess Of
Spring. They decided to put the sign
OF the cross on tho Saxon buns and
launch them forth on n missionary en-
tcrprisc. The buns accomplished their
mission.
The other story is that in early times
in the observance OF holy week the
church was more strict In the matter
OF faSts than now. Only q certain
amount Of food could be eaten. This
was indicated by two boundary marks
made in the dough to show the length
and width Of the piece. The loaves
were sold In churches md were car
rlcd from place to place by pilgrims.
So the custom Of crossing the bread
used on Good Friday became fixed.
These are not the only kinds Of
shapes Of bread whose origin has been
traced to odd circumstances. The cres-
cent shaped rolls which one sees in
some parts of the city had a curious
birth. On one OF tho occasions when
the Turks beSieged Vienna, Peter
Windler II his wife had Il bakery In
that city. This bakers patriotism was
tincturcd with Il sense of humor and
possibly a sonse Of business. At any
rate, he conceived the idea Of making
rolls in the shape Of a crescent, the
emblem of the Turks. They found n
ready sale, for everybody wanted to
devour the half moons IMPLYING the
Mohammcdans at the outer gate.
Germany is the home Of commemora-
tive cakes and bread. Other countries,
while having as many varieties, have
not woven sentiment about them to
the same extent.
~ great many Americans would not
know what schwaanerkuchen Is unless
they asked a native Of the old German
city of RoStock. 1t IS to be had only
at a certain season of the year because
1t commentaries n kindly act of many
years ago. Rostock was surrounded by
an enemy. The city gates were closed,
and the enemy had come close to the
walls, with clubs, spears, heavy mortar
sings and many other old time nipple
ments of war. Once Inc again and
again they rushed upon the walls with
thunderous noise and changing weaD-
ons, but the brave burghers as often
forced them back. Then, urged for
ward by threatening famine, the latter
sailed beyond the gates and drove
back the foe until the siege was raised.
1t was with great Joy that they saw
the bakers Of Scfiwaan, n village
twelve miles down the river Warnow,
at the gate as the enemy drew away,
bearing heavily laden baskets of cakes.
1t was such Il godscnd to the famlshed
D~urghcrs that they rewarded the
S~chwaancr bakers by giving them the
privilege of coming to Rostock every
year Oh Maundy Thursday to offer
their cakes for sale. For many years
this custom prevailed, to the profit of
the bakers from the ncighboring town.
In time, however, the bakers OF Ros-
took, showing ingratitudc, some might
think, baked the schwaanerkuchen
themselves. To this very day every
body In Rostock eats schwaancrkuchen
in holy week.
Another German bread, which in
shape resembles n capital w, owes
It's existence to the siege Of the Ger
man town Of Krailshcim in 1870. 1t is
called haar affcn, or hair monkeys, n
name suggested by the appearance Of
the apparition which raised the siege.
The efforts of the bcsiegers to take the
place had been in vain. They decided
to Starvc the Durghcrs and their fami-
lies. SO they sat down before the
town. There they sat for seven months.
BY this time the provisions were get
ting short, and starvation seemed in
evitablc. n woman had pondercd
long upon the subject, and finally
she said to the head of the defenders:
"Thc people outside the we'll are SUI
pcrStitious. Let mo masquerade Mt
night before them on the city wall in n
peculiar drcss.' She was permitted to
carry out her plan. When her fantastic
figure was seen upon the wall In the
dim light, fitting from point to point,
climbing nlmbly over obstacles, they
were horror stricken.
"IIaar affe!" they exclaimed, point
ing at the apparition on the wall. at
IS an evil spirit" The following night
they fed from the town.
In remembrance Of the success Of
the rusc this peculiar shaped cake was
made. For more han 500 years the
authorities OF the city have celebrated
the anniversary nv d~iafributinV LARGO