soul cake

American  

noun

British.

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

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Etymology

Origin of soul cake

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."

From Salon

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

From Washington Post

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Time Magazine Archive