'No respite between holidays!' Hot cross buns' early arrival prompts joy and fury

The debate over when hot cross buns should be sold is almost as much of a tradition in Australia as the Easter treat itself

For years supermarkets have released hot cross buns well before Easter, and as the yeasted treats arrive, so too does the pro- or anti-bun outrage.

No respite between holidays!" my mum texts me on 3 January, after sighting off-white crosses on New Year's Day. Buy buy buy pure consumerism in your face!" She insists she's only mildly annoyed by the baked good's drawn-out shelf life, but similar sentiments spread across mainstream and social media like melting butter.