Pretzels have been around since the time of the Roman Empire. Because they are made from a mixture of flour, salt, and water, pretzels were considered an ideal Lenten food.
Pretzels are said to have been first made by monks, who twisted long, thin strips of dough into a shape that looked like praying arms. Thus, pretzels were first called bracellae, or “little arms.” Some traditions say that the small twist in the middle of the pretzel represents a child’s arms, while the encircling part of the pretzel is the parent’s arms. The three holes formed with this type of twist represent the Trinity.
For a long time, pretzels were considered strictly Lenten fare. In some cities, pretzels were distributed to the poor during Lent. In other places, pretzels were sold by street vendors, and eaten with beer or soup. In Austria, pretzels were suspended from palm branches on Palm Sunday, for passersby to pluck and eat.
Pretzels come in many shapes and have very simple ingredients. The ingredients of pretzels are ones that are easily found and yet have a story far beyond what we see. People are often the same way. Frequently we look at the outside and fail to see who they are beyond their surface appearance.
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