The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-02-05
THE HOT CROSS BUN
TWO THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN
OF ITS MARKING.

symbols In the shape of PretzeIs and
Certain Cakes-The Siege of Ros-
tock and the Bakers of Schwaan.
German Commemorative Cakes.
Who would think of the pretzel as an
astronomical symbol or the hot cross
bun as a missionary document? Yet II
is said that originally the one was in
tended to represent the 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 II
the annulusa word they are said to
have formed out of annus, yearly
which they meant year ring. The ring
represented the suns annual circuit
and the four spokes the seasons. 1t
was afterward 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
honored pagan customs. One of these
was the eating of certain kind of
cake In honor of the Goddess of
Spring. They decided to put the sign
of the cross on the Saxon buns and
launch them forth on a missionary en-
terprlse. 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 a 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 and We're car
ried 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 curious
birth. On one of the occasions when
the Turks besieged Vienna. Peter
Windler and his wife had O bakery in
that city. This bakers patriotism was
tlnctured with n sense of humor and
possibly sense 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 a
ready sale, for everybody wanted to
devour the half moons typifying the
Mohammedans 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.
A great many Americans would not
know what schwaanerkuchen is unless
they asked native of the old German
city of Rostock 1t is to be had only
at a certain. season of the year because
II commentaries kindly act of many
years ago. Rostock was surrounded by
an enemy. The city gates We're closed,
ana the enemy had come close to the.
walls, with clubs. spears. heavy mortar
sings and many other old time nipple
ments of war. Once and again and
again they rushed upon the walls with
thunderous noise and Changing weap-
ons, but the brave burghees 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 Schwaan. a village
twelve miles down the river Warnow.
at the gate as the enemy drew away,
bearing heavily laden baskets of cakes.
1t was such godsend to the famished
burghers that they rewarded the
Schwaaner bakers by giving them the
privilege OF coming to Rostock every
year on Maundy Thursday to offer
their cakes for sale. For many years
this custom prevailed, to the profit OF
the bakers from the neighborlng town.
In time, however. the bakers of Ros-
took, showing lngratitude, some might
think, baked the schwaanerkuchen
themselves. To this very day every
body In Rostock eats schwaanerkuchen
in holy week.
Another German bread, which in
shape resembles capital W, owes
its existence to the siege of the Ger
man town OF Krailsheim In 1879 1t is |
called haar affen. or hair monkeys, q