Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declared National Pretzel Day on April 26th, 2003, knowing full well how much pretzels meant to his state. More than 80% of the pretzels made in America come from Pennsylvania. But that number only tells part of the story. Pretzels have been baked into the state’s culinary traditions ever since the first wave of German immigrants brought pretzels along with them in the 18th century. They are so beloved that Lancaster County, Pennsylvania advertises tours for some of oldest pretzel bakeries in America. Aside from tradition, the state has also left its own mark on pretzel history. Hard pretzels were invented there and Philadelphia hot dog vendors came up with the American yellow mustard and soft pretzel combination. Suffice to say, without Pennsylvania, pretzels might not have become one of America’s favorite snacks.
The Origin of Pretzels
Given Pennsylvania’s strong association with pretzels, anyone could be forgiven for wrongly believing that’s where they originate. In fact, the origins of the pretzel are a bit of mystery. German immigrants definitely brought them over from Germany, which has a strong pretzel culture predating that of America. There is clear evidence of soft pretzels in 12th century Germany. Pretzel bakers of the time used the shape of a pretzel to represent their guild and coat of arms. Although lost during the 1870 siege of Strasbourg during the Franco-Prussian war, reproductions of the Hortus Deliciarum, a medieval manuscript from the early 12th century, also has an image depicting a pretzel.
Italian or German?
Other sources, however, suggest that Pretzels may have been around earlier than the 12th century. A lot of corroborating reports point to something resembling a pretzel around the 7th century. Called “pretiola”, latin for “little reward”, these pretzel-like snacks are attributed to Christian monks in Southern France or Northern Italy. These monks created strips of bread dough into the shape of a child’s arms praying. Later Germans would call the snack “bretzel” meaning “little arms”. This origin story for pretzels aligns well with their eventual use during Lent since they traditionally contain no eggs, lard, or butter, which were prohibited during fasting periods.
Charred Remains
Knowing exactly when pretzels were first created is a difficult task for historians and archaeologists because they have been around for so long. Dough doesn’t keep well over time making physical evidence sparse. In Bavaria, Germany archaeologists uncovered a burned piece of pretzel inside an 18th century outdoor toilet, the oldest find of its kind. It is speculated that a distracted baker forgot the pretzels in the oven, burned them and then tossed them in the toilet out of disgust. Based on other discoveries at the same location, this wasn’t the first time the baker made that mistake. Charred remains of three bread rolls and another local baked delicacy called kipferi were also found.
National Pretzel Day
In summary, the best anyone can say about the origin of pretzels is that they are really old and deserve to be celebrated. National Pretzel Day makes for the perfect occasion. So, why not celebrate the day at home, in the office, or with family and friends with SuperPretzels, America’s favorite pretzel brand. Total Snacks experienced team of caters is standing by to help plan your next event with our full range of quality snack foods. To get into contact just use the form here.
About Total Snacks
Total Snacks’ mission is to always provide the highest quality snack food for people to enjoy wherever and whenever. The business began in 2015 by entrepreneurs Eleazar López Contreras and Mabe León-Ponte, a husband and wife team, who immediately noticed a lack of high quality snacking options around their new home in Miami, Florida. From its humble beginnings as a single retail kiosk, the couple has worked tirelessly and creatively to bring the best in class snack foods to the region.
Today, Total Snacks stands out as the premier provider of snack foods and catering in Miami. Its products can be found in over 300 independent outlets, the company provides contract catering solutions to some of the largest sporting and entertainment venues in the area, while bringing smiles to thousands of people a year through its corporate and private catering activities. Despite its success, Total Snack has never wavered from its core mission to offer the highest quality snack foods and the best customer service.
