First let’s deal with the perpetua-l-uum in the title. I accidently came up with this “perfect” title; perfect because all three derivatives work for pretzels. [Definition break (already, seriously?): Derivative - a word formed from another word or base.] Perpetua (in Latin) is the indelible, etched…unchanged. The definition of the word perpetual is continuing forever or everlasting perpetual motion. Lastly, the word perpetuum means forever left certain royalties to the home…well, okay, perpetuum, not so much. Although, somebody somewhere might have the original recipe for pretzels that has to stay in that house…too late – it was leaked. But pretzels do make a shape that can be considered as in an everlasting, perpetual motion, and they have been left unchanged for the most part since their creation in 610 A.D. by an Italian monk – or so the most accepted legend says.
In northern Italy (or southern France by some accounts), the Italian monk is said to have created the interwoven treat to reward children for memorizing prayers. He twisted the dough to resemble arms crossed in prayer and named his creation “pretiola,” (Latin) or “little reward”. There is another tale of bakers held hostage in Germany. (Lol, that’s all it said, “bakers held hostage in Germany” though another site said, “held hostage by local dignitaries”. Might make an interesting story…) But the first documented evidence of pretzels is on a crest on a German baker’s guild in 1111.
One site I researched claimed they were first created in Germany – in some unknown way or place or…I think they don’t really know, but they can claim that German immigrants brought pretzels to the United States. Many pretzel bakeries popped up in Pennsylvania, but in 1861, in Sturgis, Pennsylvania, Julius Sturgis founded the first commercial pretzel bakery in the town and also claimed credit for developing the first hard pretzels – was this intentional or did he leave them in the oven too long by accident? We may never know, but he must have been well pleased with himself however they evolved. I love when I accidently create a masterpiece – then kick myself for not writing it down. Or sigh because I doubt I’ll ever be able to create it exactly the same…the right temperature, the right searing, the right amount of spice…just right. Sigh.
By 1440, pretzels were considered a sign of good luck and spiritual wholeness. The spiritual wholeness is due to the religious connotations of the pretzel shape and their make up. They were originally created during Lent (a time of abstinence in the church) in part because they were made as unleavened bread (no yeast) and without an egg. During Lent, church followers – it was especially strict in the early days of the church – are not supposed to eat meat or animal byproducts, so certain breads were not allowed. (Manistee is well known for its Friday fish fry, which originated from our many Catholic immigrants and their traditions.) Regarding the shape, not just the monk’s prayerfully folded arms were implemented. From medieval times, religious history has passed on several symbols/traditions for the pretzel. For instance, the three holes are associated with the Holy Trinity (God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit). Those monks in the Middle Ages gave pretzels to the poor as a religious symbol that also fed their bodies. They soon were considered a sign of fulfillment, good fortune and prosperity because of the monks’ generosity. Over time, pretzels became associated with both Lent and Easter. Pretzels were hidden on Easter morning just as eggs are hidden today.
Roughly eighty percent of pretzel production, as well as consumption, takes place in Pennsylvania. Estimates claim that Americans eat two pounds of pretzels in a year, but pretzel consumption in Philadelphia is estimated to be around twelve pounds of pretzels per person per year. The downside of pretzels? They aren’t that good for you. They are high in salt, which cause heart issues, and simple carbs, which makes blood sugar rise rapidly. If you love them, but need to watch your salt or sugar intakes, try whole wheat or unsalted (I know, I know, not the same.) You can always try popcorn instead (with not too much butter and salt). Popcorn has the same antioxidant polyphenols found in berries that are linked to heart health and lower cancer risk. I wonder what the heart and diabetes stats are in Philadelphia…
Fun facts:
In 16th century Vienna, several monks baking pretzels in the very early hours of the morning in the monastery's basement heard a great commotion. They alerted the officials who discovered the Ottomon Turks were trying to invade the city. The military were able to thwart the attack and saved many lives. The monk pretzel bakers were awarded their own coat of arms, which included angry lions holding a pretzel.
In 2002, President George W. Bush fainted when he choked a pretzel.
Google has highlighted the snack with a Google Doodle video in honor of Oktoberfest, an annual world-famous festival in Bavaria, Germany that runs September 21 through October 6. (It's also celebrated in some areas of the US that were originally heavily populated by our German immigrants.)
The pretzel emoji can be used for something twisted.
This blog started because I was eating a granola cereal that had short, stick pretzels in it, and I wondered why they would put a less healthy snack in a fairly healthy breakfast food. Which led to questions on pretzel origin…
Have I made you hungry yet? For pretzels? Yeah, I’m going for the fancy spiced up ones…
Who'd a thought. Pretzels have history fantastic.