The surprising Lenten history of the pretzel — and its meaning for the season

The delicate pretzel has lengthy been an iconic snack, discovered in all places from film theaters to airports, from ballparks to eating places.

But the pretzel may very well have its roots in Lent. 

The earliest depiction and description of one thing resembling a pretzel dates again to the fifth century, says the web site for the Catholic Education Resource Center. That doc is presently held in the Vatican’s archives.

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The pretzel’s easy substances of salt, yeast, flour and water meant that it complied with the strict fasts that had been commonplace in the early Church.

Unlike the fasting guidelines of the fashionable period (which prohibit the consumption of meat and fowl on Fridays), segments of the Church permitted just one full meal per day, and didn’t eat any meat or animal merchandise for the entirety of Lent, stated the Catholic Education Resource Center. 

One story of the pretzel’s origins traces it again to the strict guidelines relating to Lenten fasting — and the want for hardy, filling snacks. (Tom McCorkle for The Washington Post by way of Getty Images; meals styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Washington Post by way of Getty Images)

The want for a filling however Lent-compliant snack, in response to custom, is partly how the pretzel got here into existence.

“The oldest and most widely accepted story of the invention of early pretzels goes back to the beginning of the Middle Ages, in 610 A.D.,” says the web site Pretzels.com. 

That legend says {that a} monk in Northern Italy invented the first pretzels, calling them “pretiola,” meaning “little rewards,” for youngsters who had been obedient and realized their prayers, says Pretzels.com. 

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The form of the pretzel was supposed to appear like arms in prayer, and the three holes of the pretzel had been consultant of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Although the accuracy of this story is considerably disputed, what shouldn’t be in dispute is how pretzels have turn out to be emblematic of the Lent and Easter seasons all through Europe. 

Pretzels had been, in response to one story, invented by a monk in Italy in the early seventh century.  (Lane Turner/The Boston Globe by way of Getty Images)

In Germany, along with consuming pretzels throughout Lent, pretzels and hard-boiled eggs had been hidden for youngsters to seek out on Easter Sunday in what would turn out to be a precursor to the Easter Egg hunt, says the web site for the Ivermere Bakery. 

In Luxembourg, a small European nation bordering Germany, Belgium and France, a Lenten custom involving pretzels, and love, continues to this present day.

“Bretzelsonndeg,” or “Pretzel Sunday” is noticed every year on the fourth Sunday of Lent. 

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The fourth Sunday of Lent is thought in the Catholic Church as “Laetare Sunday,” and is one of the two occasions throughout the yr the celebrant of the Mass wears rose (pink) vestments. 

Laetare Sunday is seen as considerably of a reprieve from the penances of the Lenten season, and, for some fortunate Luxembourgers, the Fourth Sunday of Lent additionally comes with a tasty pretzel deal with. 

In Luxembourg, “Pretzel Sunday” is noticed every year throughout Lent and makes use of pretzels as a method to flirt with a crush.  (Half Baked Harvest/Tieghan Gerard)

“Bretzelsonndeg” is “a celebration of love,” says the Luxembourg City web site. 

“Traditionally, a man should offer a pretzel (a sweet puff pastry with fondant icing and almonds) to his sweetheart as a token of his love,” stated the web site. 

If the girl additionally has emotions for the man, she’s going to give him an egg on Easter. 

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But if she doesn’t, the man will get an empty basket, stated the Luxembourg City web site. 

Yet this custom comes with a twist (pun supposed): During leap years, comparable to 2024, the ladies are in cost of giving out pretzels to males, stated the web site. 

Men get the probability to provide out an egg.

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