NON Biased Opinion On The Shlisel Chalah

Some claim that Shlissel Challah is rooted in Christian and/or pagan practices.

Keys used to be manufactured in the form of a cross, and at Easter time, Christians

would bake them into a rising loaf of bread to symbolize Yoshke rising from the dead.

(This is the source of the "hot cross buns.")

The Chida (Moreh B'etzba 7:190) writes:

 " This is a Klall Gadol. You should not follow any Minhag unless you know the root (source) of it from Chazal  , Authentic Kisvei Arizal or you know the true reason behind the Minhag".