History Pretzel

pretzel depicted @ banquet of queen esther , king ahasuerus. 12th century hortus deliciarum

there numerous unreliable accounts regarding origin of pretzels, origin of name; assume have christian backgrounds , invented european monks. according legend, cited several sources, including history of science , technology, bryan bunch , alexander hellemans, in 610 ad ...[a]n italian monk invents pretzels reward children learn prayers. calls strips of baked dough, folded resemble arms crossing chest, pretiola ( little reward[s] ) . however, there no known historical evidence verify claim. source locates invention in monastery in southern france. looped pretzel may related greek ring bread, derived communion bread used in monasteries thousand years ago. in germany, there stories pretzels invention of desperate bakers held hostage local dignitaries. meyers konversations-lexikon 1905 suspects origin of pretzels in ban of heathen baking traditions, such in form of sun cross, @ synod of estinnes in year 743. pretzel may have emerged substitute.

fish lunch jacob foppens van es, before 1640, museum of fine arts of nancy

the german name brezel may derive latin bracellus (a medieval term bracelet ), or bracchiola ( little arms ).

the pretzel has been in use emblem of bakers , formerly guilds in southern german areas since @ least 12th century. 12th-century illustration in hortus deliciarum southwest german alsace region (today france) may contain earliest depiction of pretzel. within christian church, pretzels regarded having religious significance both ingredients , shape. knot shape has been claimed represent hands in prayer. moreover, 3 holes within pretzel represent 3 persons of holy trinity: god father, god son, , god holy spirit. pretzels made simple recipe using flour , water eaten during lent when christians forbidden eat eggs, lard, or dairy products such milk , butter. time passed, pretzels became associated both lent , easter. pretzels hidden on easter morning eggs hidden today, , particularly associated lent, fasting, , prayers before easter.

like holes in hubs of round swedish flat bread (which let them hung on strings), loops in pretzels may have served practical purpose: bakers hang them on sticks, instance, projecting upwards central column, shown in painting job berckheyde (1630–93) around 1681.

emblem of baker s guild