soul cake

noun

British.

1. a round, sweet bun or small, oval cake, traditionally made to celebrate All Souls' Day.

Word History and Origins

Origin of soul cake¹

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

When "souling", these cakes would be handed out as people sung a rhyme: "Soul, soul, for a soul-cake; Pray you, good mistress, a soul cake."

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Folklorist Jack Santino, who writes about the Celtic origins of Halloween, reminded me of the slightly sinister nature of the soul cake exchange.

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It is found among ourselves too, essentially connected with the dead, and something similar to it appears in the "soul cake" connected originally with All Souls' Day.

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The soul cake referred to in the verses is a sort of bun which the people used to make, and to give to one another on the 2d of November.

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Doughnuts, according to Mrs. Berger, were originally a form of "soul cake" given to children in exchange for their prayers; their roundness was meant to symbolize eternity.

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