The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-01-29
THE HOT CROSS BUN
TWO THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN
or IT'S MARKING. i
Symbols In the shape OF PretxeIs and
Certain Caixes-The Siege of Ros-
took md the Bakers OF schwaan.
German Commemorative Calxes

p
German Commemorative Cakes.
Who would think Of the pretzel as an
astronomical symbol or the hot cross
bun as missionary document? Yet 1t
y 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 annalus-a word they are said to
have formed cut Of annus. yearly
which they meant year ring. The ring
represented the suns annual circuit.
and the four spokcs the seasons. II
was afterward known under other
names III the more northerly countries
of Europe. There are two stories Of
the origin OF the hot cross bun. The
Christian missionaries 10 England are
said to have discovered that, although
they could nlter the views Of the PEG.
pie on religious matters. they could moi
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 then
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 certain
amount Of food could be eaten. This
was indicated by two boundary marks
made In the dough 10 show the length
and width 81 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 OF Good Friday became fixed.
These are not the only kinds Of
shapes Of bread whose origin has been
traced 10 odd circumstances. The ores.
cent shipped rolls which one secs III
some parts of the city had a curious
birth. On one Of the occasions when
ihe Turks besieged Vienna. Peter
Windler and bis wife had bakery IN
lhat city. This BAKERS patriotism was
Iinctqred with a sense Of humor and
possibly 4 sense og business. IT any
rate. lle conceived the Idea Of making
rolls IN tie shape Of a crescent. the
emblem ~ the Turks They found i
ready sale. Tor everybody wanted ID
siavolr The haif moons typlfying the
M5hamriedaes 10 tila outer gate.
Germany Is the home of coInmemo-a.
i've cakes and hreai. Other countries.
while having rs many varieties, have
aas woven sentiment about them 70
fhe same extent.
4 gsaat many Americans would not
aa3E what sehwaanprluehen Is unless
Trey asbai n native ~ the ola German
essv rg IWtaae. Is fig 90 be had oniy
III u eassala eaaaad sf The year hpeause
II c5mncn6zstes & kindiyact II MANS
fears a~a Ttostpek was surrounded Us
sH enemy. The city gates we're closed,
All lhe CTesnv hal Uame close "a the
v.al,a. with a.uas. spears. heavy mortar
sH and ta8uy gsaer cd t'me iglplc-
1eGts q Rsr, tsaae aud asgll and
again Trey Fu#hed npoa tire walls with
thnaaeFaus a5ige aud changing weap-
Lsf tie brave htreaars It's often
forced THROWN h9c.s Thea. urged for.
Harii Is threatening famine. the latter
sailled beyond tile gates and drove
baes tue Zoe Uaiii the siege was raised.
II was with areRt lay that they saw
the bakrrs of Sehwaua Il village
twglve miles down the river Warnow.
at tbs gate as the enemy drew away.
bearing henvIly laden baskets Of cakes
II was such q gldzend 70 Tie faaiished
barshers tllat they rewarded thp
sehwaancr bakers by giving them the
privilege of coming 30 R1stock every
gear IN Maunly Thursday to offer
their cakes for sale. For many years
this custom prevailed, 70 the profit of
the bakers from tile neighboring town.
II time. however. the bakers Of Ros-
took. showing ingratitude. some might
think. baked the schwaanerkuchen
themselves. To this very day every
body IN Rosiock eats schwaaneFkucheu
In holy week.
Another German bread. which IN
shape resembles capital W. owes
is existence 70 the Siege Of the Ger.
man town of Krailshcim III 1870. II Il
called hnar affcn. Or hair monkeys.
name suggested ~ the appearance Of
lie apparltlDn which raised the siege.
The efforts OF the llealrgers % take Tire
place bail hesi in vain Ihcy decided
ID sturEr Tie bnrgbeFs Hnl their faml.
lIe So Ties sal down before Tie
t0vn. There they sat mr. seven MONTHS
- Tbs time thr provisions were get.
iiat lort Hnl starvation seemed ifs
efiablt. ole vos8an had pQuderei
long pn1n file uDiret and Ha3lif
fha FaIli N tlle hnsi ut tie dtfugAr.
Fae ne0pie outside tbe miii nrc ai.
fa fft s nIaaiuefaig atI
a i lesOre llrn IA ibe rity wall In ii
Il nilar trss Size was permitted to
eaHg ont lipr plum When her fantastic
flrr nus ssel up9a ~ vail hi THE