The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-01-10
THE HOT CROSS BUN
TWO THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN
or IFS MARKING.

OF us MARKING.
symbols In the shape Of Pret.eIa and
Certain cakes-The siege Of Ros-
tock and the Bakers Of schwaan.
German Commemorative Cakes.
who would think Of the pretEei as an
astronomical symbol or the hot cross
bun rs azmisSionary. document Yet IT
Is said that originally the one was In
tended to represent the sun and the
four seasons and the other 10 convert
pagan England to Christianity. The
former is declared to have been 6rst
made by the Romans, who called it
the annulus-a word they are said to
have formed ont OF annus. & yearly
which they meant n year ring. The ring
represented the sun's annual circuit
and the four spokes the seasons. 1t
was afterward known under other
names In the more northeriy countries
OF Europe. There are two stories Aof
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 PEG
pie on religious matters, they could not
induce them to abandon their time
honored pagan customs. One OF these
was the eating of a 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 missionary en-
terprise. 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 were 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 a curious
birth. On one OF the occasions when
thu Turks besieged Vienna, Peter
win1ler and his wife had bakery in
that crty. This bakers patriotism was
tinctured with a sense Of humor and
possibly a sense OF business. At any
rate. he conceived the idea Of making
rolls In the shape OF crescent. the
emblem of the Turks. They found a
ready sale, for everybody wanted to
devour the half moons IMPLYING the
MohaInmedans 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 a native OF the old German
city Of RostOck. II Is to be had only
at certain season OF the year because
1t commentaries 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 and again and
again they rushed upon the walls with
thunderous noise and changing weap-
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.
It was with great Joy that they saw
the bakers OF Schwaan, a village
twelve miles down the river Warnow,
at the gate us 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 or
the bakers from the neighboring town.
In time. however. the bakers OF RIOS
took. showing ingratitude, 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 IL
called haar AMEN. or hair monkeys. d
name suggested by the appearance OF
the apparitlon which raised the siege.
The efforts OF the besIegerse TO take the
place had been in vain. They decided
to starve the burghers 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
evitable. One woman had pondered