Hot cross buns and waffling

It's Easter and here in England that means time for hot cross buns. The fact that you can buy them in the shops since shortly after Christmas doesn't take away the enjoyment - although I can't imagine why you'd eat the buns before Easter?! Someone must do, since the shops sell them, right?

Anyway, I made these myself yesterday, and boy! are the home made version 100 times scrummier than the store bought kind! And they make the whole flat smell sooooo nice. These are already good reasons for making the buns.

But recently I've been thinking about traditions. Since I've moved to England, traditions have become more important to me. They are like a string of pearls that divides the year and ties me to Denmark and my history.

Which is probably why I make such an effort to make different things during the year, things that I used to do with my own family, like making Christmas cookies and marzipan, or baking fastelavnsboller before Lent. Some of these things I've actually never done alone before, my mum would usually do them and I'd be a mere recipient.

Now I do these things, and I feel more connected to them and why I/we do them at those times of year. Also because I sometimes feel I need to know more about them to explain them to T. I find it interesting how we do things quite automatically, these traditions. Only when we're "thrown out" of our own culture do we start to really see our own traditions. And discover that they do have meaning for us, other than simply going through the motions.

The meaning certain traditions have for us may be rooted in your religious reasons for celebrating (or whatever, usually there is some kind of celebration, with food!), the history of your country etc.

To me I think the most important part of keeping these traditions 'alive' although I live in a different country, is the memories I have of doing these things all my life, with my family. Continuing the traditions is a way of feeling connected with Denmark and my family and friends.

But then there are also new traditions. The English ones. I feel that, living here now, I must get to know them, perhaps to better understand the people here. Although I doubt I'll ever feel English! And we are two people here, so all sorts of things need to somehow amalgamate into... a third thing, perhaps..? I'm not sure, entirely.

Also, I want to take in the English traditions for T, because it shouldn't just be the Danish ones that are home made as it were. And that brings me back to the hot cross buns. They're English, but I'm not. Still, I can make them and enjoy them too.

However, I don't think I'll ever like tea!

Did this make any sense at all?