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In many historically Christian countries, the buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of Christ. They actually pre-date Christianity, however, being used in rituals in paganism. The Christian church in England attempted to ban them, but they were too popular, and instead Elizabeth I passed a law permitting their consumption, but only on particular religious occasions such as Easter and Christmas.
Around Easter 2003, the Daily Telegraph among other newspapers, reported that several local authorities in England (in particular Tower Hamlets Borough CouncilThe London Borough of Tower Hamlets is the London borough to the east of the City of London, north of the River Thames. It includes the classic East End. The area has been known as the Tower Hamlets for centuries, originally literally referring to the sma) had banned schools serving hot cross buns on the grounds of political correctnessPolitical correctness is the alteration of language said by proponents to redress real or alleged unjust discrimination or to avoid offense. The term most often appears in the predicate adjective form politically correct often abbreviated PC and is usuall, believing the symbol of the cross could be offensive to non- ChristianChristian is: a follower of the faith of Christianity a popular first name and surname, especially in Northern Europe According to the New Testament, those who followed Jesus as his disciples were first called Christians by those who did not share their fs. This step was widely condemned, most vocally by Ann WiddecombeThe Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe (born October 4 1947) is a British Conservative MP, Privy Counsellor and unlikely sex symbol. Widdecombe holds Honours degrees in Latin (BA Birmingham University) and in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (MA Lady Marga. As one of the cited councils, that of the City of YorkThis article is about the English city. For other meanings, see York (disambiguation). York is a city in the north of England built at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. In 1991 the city had a population of 123,126. Its geographic coordinates are, issued a statement making clear that while the buns were not being served, this was for "no particular reason", and accusing the newspaper's reporter of bad faith, the veracity of the entire report was questioned.