I remember singing a song about them in elementary school, but never had them back them.

I remember buying some in Washington state when my kids were little, since I thought they were quaint, but I didn't even know the religious significance, but I figured it had something to do with Good Friday.

Now, in Hawaii, Good Friday is an actual holiday where government offices are closed, and I've seen hot cross buns in the bakeries, but it's not a really big thing here. I've always considered it to be a British thing carried over to the other countries, a bit rare and quaint here.

My guess is that it also signifies the end of Lent. We make a big deal about Malasadas on the day before Lent begins, whether we intend to give anything up or not, everyone eats Malasadas! Not so much with the Hot Cross Buns. I guess we have more Portuguese and English folks here!

This video shows Hot Cross Buns might have started in Pagan times...

I'm with you in that I celebrate all of the holidays with treats, particularly those that involve pastry. I grew up in the northeast U.S. and Hot Cross Buns were standard Easter fare.

I didn't know what they were until just now. If you asked me as a kid, I would have said something along the lines of an angry parent and the way my arse felt.

I'm in the Southeastern U.S. and I've never seen a hot cross bun before.

I've certainly heard of them so we must have them over here, it's been over 23 years since I've eaten anything made with wheat flour so not up on the buns, cakes and those sort of things. Looks yummy though!

Yes, I can buy them at my local grocers

A rabbit raced a tortoise
We know the tortoise won
And Mr Rabbit came in late
A little hot cross bun.

Hhmm, never had them around Easter time. I agree on the other Easter goodies, and why not? Easter has pagan roots, so the holiday is hardly exclusive to Christianity.