History of the Pretzel (2024)

FAQs

History of the Pretzel? ›

While no one knows for sure how pretzels originated, the most popular story is that in 610 A.D., while baking bread, an Italian monk decided to create a special treat to motivate his distracted students. He rolled out ropes of dough, twisted them to resemble hands crossed on the chest in prayer, and then baked them.

While no one knows for sure how pretzels originated, the most popular story is that in 610 A.D., while baking bread, an Italian monk decided to create a special treat to motivate his distracted students. He rolled out ropes of dough, twisted them to resemble hands crossed on the chest in prayer, and then baked them.

They came to be seen as a symbol of good luck, prosperity, and spiritual fulfillment. The three holes in the traditional pretzel shape have also taken on religious meaning over the years. These are sometimes seen as being representative of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In any case, the pretzel has very early roots in Southern Germany, as well, where it is typically credited as the birthplace of soft pretzels. As early as the 12th century, German pretzel bakers used the pretzel shape in the emblem for their guild (kind of like a union), and also for their own coat of arms.

The first recorded mention of pretzels in Germany dates back to the 12th century, when they were sold by monks in the region of Bad Urach. From there, pretzels quickly spread throughout Germany, becoming a staple food in many regions of the country.

Over time, the pretzel became a staple and an integral part of Pennsylvania's culture and economy. The state is now known as the pretzel capital of the world, with Pennsylvanians consuming a whopping 12 times more pretzels than the national average.

The Baker's Guild used the pretzel as its symbol in the late 12^th century. Baking the perfect pretzel was necessary to become a master. Pretzels were a part of wedding ceremonies in the 16^th century. Similar to a wishbone, the bride and groom would make a wish, break the pretzel and eat it as a symbol of their union.

The pretzel emoji 🥨 depicts a salty, heart-shaped, twisted pretzel. The emoji is commonly used in posts about pretzels and other baked treats. It's also commonly associated with Germany. and baseball ⚾.

The legend of the pretzel

The Catholic Church claims that a monk in Northern Italy created pretzels by using left-over dough that was originally made for Lent. He created the signature pretzel shape because it was meant to symbolize a child praying with his arms folded across his chest.

The treat continued to grow as a symbol of luck and prosperity in German culture, so much that children would wear pretzel necklaces to bring luck to the new year. Even wedding celebrations would incorporate the pretzel as a symbol of matrimony.

Why do pretzels have three holes? ›

The pretzel was invented by European monks in the early Middle Ages, possibly in the 6th or 7th century. The monks used the pretzel's distinctive knot shape to represent the Holy Trinity, with the three holes in the pretzel symbolizing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Pretzels may be better than some fatty chips, but four out of five nutrition experts surveyed by Time say if you're trying to eat healthy, pretzels shouldn't be your go-to snack. Although pretzels are low-fat, they are also pretty paltry on the protein and fiber front, and they can be quite high in sodium and carbs.

In Germany, pretzels are traditionally associated with Lent and Easter, and the overlapping strands of dough in a pretzel are said to represent the arms of a person with hands folded in prayer. In fact, German Brezel is ultimately derived from the Latin word for "arm," bracchium.

Pretzel baking has most firmly taken root in the region of Franconia and adjoining Upper German-speaking areas, and pretzels have been an integral part of German baking traditions for centuries.

Unlike their American counterpart, Bavarian pretzels pack a denser, chewier inside and a darker, crispier outside. And there's a certain "tang" to the Bavarian-style pretzel that sets it apart from other soft pretzels. But best of all, it doesn't need to be dipped in cheese or drenched in butter to taste delicious!

Some say they were originally called “bracellae,” the Latin term for “l*ttle arms,” from which Germans later derived the word “bretzel.” According to others, the earliest pretzels were dubbed “pretiolas,” meaning “l*ttle rewards,” and handed out by the monks when their young pupils recited their prayers correctly.

Margret Rey, H.A. Rey (Illustrator)

One morning in May five little dachshunds are born. One grows up to be the longest of all! Pretzel easily wins a blue ribbon at the dog show and the admiration of everyone—everyone except Greta, the little dachshund across the street, who doesn't care for long dogs.

In the old days pretzels were associated with Easter because the twists of the pretzel were thought to resemble arms crossing in prayer. To help Americans in need, egg farmers across the country are donating more than 11 million eggs to food banks across the nation during the Easter season.

There are many stories about the origin of this German tradition, but there is a common thought that the pretzel itself is fashioned after the way in which German Monks prayed with their arms crossed in front of their chests.

A story goes that in the Middle Ages, a breadmaking monk first twisted leftover dough into pretzel shapes to represent children's arms crossed in prayer. I heard this on the TV show Unwrapped, and it's also shared by Food & Wine magazine.