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 Many
people believe that pretzels had their beginning around 610 A.D.
somewhere in Southern France or Northern Italy. A monk was preparing
unleavened bread for Lent, the Christian period of fasting and penitence
before Easter. Christians of the day prayed with their arms folded
across their chests, each hand on the opposite shoulder. It occurred
to him that he could twist the leftover dough from the bread into
this shape and use it as a treat for the children to recite their
prayers. He named his creation 'pretiola,' Latin for 'little reward.'
In the centuries following, the pretzel made its way into history
books and European culture. The pretzel's form became a symbol of
good luck, long life and prosperity. Historians believe, although
cannot authenticate, that the pretzel came to America by way of
the Mayflower in 1620. There are stories of early settlers selling
the treat to Indians, who would pay any price for them. |
 The
hard pretzel had its beginnings in Pennsylvania. One story tells of
a baker who dozed off while baking soft pretzels. The fire in the
hearth died down and he awoke with a start, thinking that the pretzels
had not been baked long enough. He fired up the furnace again, baking
them twice as long as necessary. When the master baker found out,
he was outraged at the "ruined" pretzels. Then, out of curiosity
he tasted them. To his delight, he discovered they were crisp, crunchy
and delicious. What especially pleased him was that the new hard pretzels
also retained their freshness much longer. |
 Today,
the center of pretzel history in America still resides in Pennsylvania
where the first commercial bakery was founded in the small town of
Lititz in 1861. Gettysburg Pretzel is located near Lancaster County’s
Pennsylvania Dutch country which is said to be the birthplace of the
American pretzel. Most pretzels in the United States are made in South
Eastern Pennsylvania where the pretzels’ unique flavor is derived
from the water in this area of Pennsylvania. |
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