Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-01-23
THE HOT CROSS BUN
TWO THEORIES AS TO TIE ORIGIN
or IT'S MARKING.

e@Aes-The Siege OF ROs-
toek and the bakers OF seh,~aan.
~~r"an Commemorative Cakes.
Who would think OF the pretzel au nm
astronomical symbol or the hot cross
pun as missionary docnment7 Yet "a
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 Il
the annulus-a word they are said IN
nave formed out OF annus, a year-,by
which they meant year ring. The ring
represented the suns annual circuit
ana the four spokes the seasons n
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 n certain Kind OF
cake In honor OF the Goddess Of
spring. They decided 10 put the sign
or the cross on the Saxon buns ana
launch them forth on a missionary er-
terprise. The buns accomplished their
mission.
The other story is that in early times
In the observance or holy week the
church was more strict In the matter
or fasD 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 I'm 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 boon
traced to odd circumstances. The eros
cent shaped rolls which one sees in
some parts of the city had n curious
birth. On one of the occasions when
the Turks besieged Vienna. Peter
Windler and his wife had a bakery In
that city. This bakers patriotism was
unctured with n sense OF humor and
possibly sense Of business. At any
rate. he conceived the idea OF making
rolls In the shape OF n crescent. the
emblem Of the Turks. They found a
ready sale, for everybody wanted To
devour the half moons typifying the
Mchamnedans at the outer gate.
Germany is the home OF commemo-a-
tive cakes and bread. other countries.
while having as many varieties. have
not woven sentiment about them to
the same extent
n 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
Al commentaries a kindly act OF many
years ago. Rostock was surrounded bv
an enemy. The city gates We're closed.
and the enemy had come close TO the
walls, with clubs. spears. heavy mortar
N-aN AAAAA. NAAltl Nltl time lllDle-
ments of war. Once and again and
again they rushed upon the walls with
thunderous noise anc 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.
~ with
the bakers OF Schwaan, village
twelve miles down the river Warnow.
at the gate as the enemy drew away.
bearing heavily laden baskets OF cakes.
1t was such n godsend 30 the furnished
burghers that they rewarded the
Schwaaner bakers by giving them the
privilege OF coming 10 Rostock every
year on Maundy Thursday to offer
their cakes for sale. For many years
this custom prevailed. 10 the profit of
the bakers from the neighborlng town.
In time. however. the bakers OF Ros-
took, showing ingratitude. some might
think, baked the schwaanerkuchen
themselves. To this very dav every
body In Rostock eats schwaanerkuchen
In holy week.
Another German bread. which In
shape resembles Il capital w. owes
It's existence to the siege OF the Ger
man town OF Krailshelm In 1879. 1t is
called LIAR affen. or hair monkeys. q
name suggested by the appearance of
the appartion which raised the siege.
The efforts OF the besiegcTs TO take the
place had been ia vain. They decided
10 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. aad starvation seemed in
evitable. one woman had pondered
long upon tho subject. and finally
she said to IL, head of the defenders:
The people ol,side the wall are SUI
perStlticus. Let me masquerade at
night before them on the city wall In a
peculiar dress" 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,
nimbly over obstacles. they
were horror stricken.
"Haar affe!" they exclaimed, point
ing at the apparition on the wall. 1T
Is an evil spirit" The following night
they fled from the town.
In remembrance Of the success of
the mse this peculiar shaped cake was
made. For more than 500 years the
of the city have celebrated
the anniversary by distributing large
quantities of these cakes among the
poor and the children OF the city,
New York Tribune.
FatefuI Day For 'CafhoIfca