Festive bun brawl

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 13 Jan 2013.

Last weekend, perhaps because it was a slow news week, several media organisations ran stories on an alleged “unholy row” or “festive brawl” over the earlier-than-usual sale of hot cross buns.

Major supermarket chains began rolling out the traditional Easter fare more than three months before the Easter weekend, with some stores selling hot cross buns from December 27.

The pressure for early sales disappointed some church leaders, who view the move as crass commercialisation denigrating an ancient Christian symbol reminding the faithful of the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, with the cross on the buns referring to his crucifixion.

Others see it as an irrelevant sideline to what matters in Christian faith: an encounter with Jesus that challenges us to practice justice and mercy toward the less fortunate, and walk humbly through life with God, regardless of how many hot cross buns are within reach.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.