Good Friday and the buns

On Good Friday during the Easter celebration, hot cross buns are traditionally toasted or eaten hot with the cross on the bun symbolising The Crucifixion of Jesus. There is some evidence to suggest that hot cross buns actually pre-date Christianity, although generally it is acknowledged that the first reference to 'hot cross buns' was in 1733. However the use of a cross on bread or buns has a wider use than with the Christian festival and similar buns were eaten by Saxons in honour of the goddess Eostre as the cross represetned the four quarters of the moon. Whether correct or not is unknown although the term "Eostre" is probably the origin of the name "Easter". Apart from people of devout faith or belief, it is doubtful that many of those consuming the buns are aware of its actual meaning.