ESL resources - traditional british foods

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Hot Cross Buns

Posted by Jacqueline Richards

Language point: traditional british foods

Hot, cross buns, hot cross buns ... one a penny two a penny ... hot, cross buns. But why were the buns so cross ? Did someone forget to pay or perhaps the price had gone up since last week ? The baker may have slipped on the greasy floor of the bakery and buns were sent flying through the air of the town. No wonder the buns were cross ! (or indeed the baker, as well as the customers - who had been queueing up for hours ). Perhaps the temperature control on the oven had gone out of control and just like King Alfred (who burned the cakes) the buns ended up black all over (they would be hot then !). Maybe the buns had passed their sell - by - date and were left on the shelf of the supermarket. Or they even could have been used as footballs in one of the baker's five - a - side team matches - that's how come the buns came to be black ! (and cross !). Hot and cross buns melt butter more easily and are very difficult to pick up from the plate because they burn your fingers ... OUCH ! ... Hot, cross buns, hot cross buns ... one a penny two a penny ... hot, cross buns.

© Jacqueline Richards 2005

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