"In many historically Christian countries, the buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of the crucifixion. They are believed by some to pre-date Chrisitianity although the first recorded use of the term "hot cross bun" is not until 1733. Protestant English monarchs saw the buns as a dangerous hold over of Catholic belief in England being baked from the dough used in making the communion wager. Protestant England attempted to ban the sale of the buns by bakers but they were too popular, and instead Elizabeth 1 passed a law permitting bakeries to sell them, but only at Easter and Christmas. David provides no source for this assertion and it seems to be a myth arising from anti-Catholic bigotry"
