Hot Cross Buns and Easter Eggs

Easter is the most important celebration for Christians around the world.

Although the symbols date back to pre-Christian times, it was Christians who introduced both the Hot Cross Bun and the Easter Egg.

In the Bible (John 3:16) it says

‘God loved the world so much that he sent his only son Jesus, so that everyone who believes in him can have everlasting life.  God didn’t send Jesus to accuse the world but to save it.’

More information on Easter food is available here.

Hot Cross Buns

You will need:

• A hot cross bun on a plate
• A flip chart or OHP on which to draw, or ready prepared A4 sheets showing,
  various crosses eg red cross, crossroads sign, cross on schoolwork, cross on treasure map, addition and multiplication signs  - click the symbol on the right to download.
• The book ‘Sad News, Glad News’ by Lois Rock (Easter gift to local Primary Schools in 1999)

Draw or display the various types of cross.  What do they mean?

Show and talk about the hot cross bun.

Read ‘Sad News, Glad News’ as far as and including the crucifixion.

Explain that years ago you could only buy a hot cross bun on one day of the year, Good Friday. Bakers opened that day only to sell hot cross buns. All other shops were closed.

The cross on the buns reminds Christians that Jesus died on a cross. Christians believe that he did this to pay for all the wrong things that people do.   Christians believe that Jesus died so that people can go to heaven, which is a good thing. That is why the day for eating hot cross buns is called ‘Good Friday’, (although some think it may be a derivative of ‘God Friday’). Christians go to church on Good Friday to think about Jesus dying on the cross.  Churches are made to look sad on Good Friday. They may have dark colours in them, usually purple, and there are no flowers until the Sunday, which is a very happy day....

Easter Eggs

You will need:

• Same as for the hot cross bun assembly (plus drawing of heart and kisses)
• A copy of Bach’s Easter Oratorio (optional)
• A chicken’s egg
• A hollow chocolate egg

Recap on the symbolism of the hot cross bun.

Show the egg.  Talk about eggs in general and the creatures that hatch out of them (birds, turtles, crocodiles etc) and how eggs can remind us of new life.

Show the Easter egg. Break the chocolate egg in half. Explain that as well as ‘new life’ this empty egg reminds Christians of the last part of the story when the friends of Jesus found an empty grave.

Read ‘Sad News, Glad News’.

Listen to Bach’s Easter Oratorio.  Ask the children to think about how the mood of the music changes; it becomes very joyful.  Ask the children to imagine what the German people might be singing/saying.

You could end the assembly by bringing together the following:

Christians believe:

that God sent Jesus because he loved the world so much (either draw or show A4 with hearts and kisses - another form of cross).

that Jesus died on a cross (show hot cross bun).........to pay for all the wrong (draw or show a cross x) in the world (add a tick to the picture of a cross).

that Jesus came back to life.  This gives them hope of a new life in heaven (show the Easter egg).