Easter Foods
There are some special foods eaten at Easter time, one of the most famous are Hot Cross Buns. These are often eaten in the U.K. on Good Friday. These are yeast dough buns with currants and raisins in them. They were eaten all year round in pagan, pre-Christian times, the bun represented the moon and the four quarters, the four seasons. Christians took over this yummy tradition and changed the meaning so the cross represented the cross that Jesus died on. Here's a recipe for Hot Cross Buns.
Another food eaten in the U.K. at Easter time is Simnel Cake. This is a rich fruit cake covered with a layer of Marzipan. There are 11 marzipan balls put around the top of the cake that represent the 11 faithful disciples of Jesus. The cake is also has a layer of Marzipan in the middle of it! It is traditionally eaten on Mothering Sunday in the U.K. which is always on the middle Sunday of Lent. Here's a recipe for Simnel Cake. Simnel Cakes were first made by servant girls and maids to take home to their mothers on Mothering Sunday.
Pancakes are eaten on Shrove Tuesday, traditionally to use up all the fatty foods before Lent. In Denmark they eat 'Shrovetide Buns'.
In Italy, salty Pretzels are traditionally eaten at Easter time. In Russia, little pancakes called 'Blini's' topped with anchovies and a mixture of cream, soft cream, dried fruit and orange peel called 'Paska' are eaten. A traditional Greek Easter cake is made with Oranges and Almonds in it. It is eaten with a spicy orange sauce poured over it.
And, of course, there are Easter Eggs!!!