German Laugenbrezel (lye pretzel)

A pretzel can come in several forms: a soft, sweet bread or pastry made for consumption within a few days; a bread pastry made from wheat flour, water and yeast, glazed with lye and sprinkled with coarse salt, soft inside, usually about hand-sized and made for consumption on the same day; or a party snack made as before, but thinly shaped in various forms, baked to a crisp and very durable when stored in an airtight environment. The first two types have the three-looped pretzel knot in common, as shown in the lead image. The second and third types usually have similar flavor profiles due to the inclusion of lye and salt. All three types have different backgrounds and purposes. To avoid confusion, Germans call the second type "Laugenbrezel" (lye pretzels).

The pretzel in the first sense is of Christian Medieval European origin, possibly initially to replace pagan customs. Today, it is still used in southern German-speaking areas on Christian holidays and in local customs.^[1][2][3][4] The three-looped knot shape is also used for a variety of different sweet pastries. The lye pretzel is popular in southern Germany and adjoining German-speaking areas as a variety of bread, a side dish or a snack. The crisp hard pretzels originated in the United States and have become popular in many countries.

[edit] History

An illustration from the 12th century Hortus deliciarum from Alsace may be the earliest depiction of a pretzel, shown at a banquet with Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus

There are numerous accounts on the origin of the looped pretzels as well as the origin of the name. Most of them agree that they have religious and/or Christian backgrounds and were invented by monks. According to The History of Science and Technology, by Bryan Bunch and Alexander Hellemans, in 610 A.D. "...an Italian monk invents pretzels as a reward to children who learn their prayers. He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the chest, 'pretiola' ("little rewards")". However, no source is cited to back up these details. Another source locates the invention in a monastery in southern France.^[2][3][4] The looped pretzel may also have evolved from a Greek ring bread which was served in monasteries for the Last Supper 1,000 years ago.^[1] In Germany there are stories that pretzels were the invention of desperate bakers.^[5] Meyers Konversationslexikon from 1905 suspects the origin of pretzels in a ban of heathen baking traditions, such as in form of sun wheels, at the Synod of Estinnes in the year 743. The pretzel may have emerged as a substitute.^[6]

The German name "Brezel" may derive also from Latin bracellus (a medieval term for "bracelet"),^[7] or bracchiola ("little arms").

Documentation shows that pretzel shaped pastries have been in use in bakery emblems of bakers and formerly their guilds in Southern Germany since 1111.^[5] In the 12th century, Hortus deliciarum from the southwest German Alsace (today France) may contain the earliest depiction of a pretzel.

Kepler's 'Panis Quadragesimalis diagram.

Within the Catholic church, pretzels were regarded as having religious significance for both ingredients and shape. Pretzels made with a simple recipe using only flour and water could be eaten during Lent, when Christians were forbidden to eat eggs, lard, or dairy products like milk and butter. As time passed, pretzels became associated with both Lent and Easter. Pretzels were hidden on Easter morning just like eggs are hidden today and are particularly associated with Lent, fasting, and prayers before Easter.^[8] The classic pretzel's three-hole shape begins to take form. The three holes represent the Christian Trinity of "Father, Son and Holy Spirit," and pretzels are thought to bring luck, prosperity, and spiritual wholeness.^{[citation needed]} The wedding phrase "tying the knot" got its start when a pretzel was used to tie the knot between two prominent families.^{[citation needed]} The pretzel's loops stood for everlasting love.^{[citation needed]}

In 1609, the German astronomer Johannes Kepler stated that "[if] one puts all of this information together in one bundle, and at the same time believes that the sun truly moves across the Zodiac over the space of a year, as Ptolemy and Tycho Brahe believed, then it is necessary to concede that the circuits of the three above planets through ethereal space are, as it were, a complex of several movements, that they are actually twisted; not like piled-up cord, with coils in a sequential order, but rather in the image of a lenten bread, as the following diagram shows..." (panis quadragesimalis or lenten bread is a pretzel).^[9]

[edit] Pretzels in German-speaking countries

Variety of Southern German lye breads (Laugengebäck)

The custom of using lye in baking is thought to have evolved by accident in the 19th century.^[10] In southern German-speaking areas, the same dough and baking procedure with lye and salt is used to make other kinds of "lye pastry" (Laugengebäck): lye rolls, buns and even loaves (Laugenbrötchen, Laugenstangen, Laugenbrot).^[11] Lye pretzels are popular in southern Germany, Alsace, Austria and Switzerland and come in many local varieties. Almost every region and even city as its own way of baking them. Freshly baked every day, they are sold in every bakery and in special booths or stands in downtown streets. Often, they are sliced horizontally, buttered, and sold as Butterbrezel or come with slices of cold meats or cheese. Instead of salt, sesame, poppy or caraway seeds, melted cheese and bacon bits are popular toppings. In Bavaria, they accompany a main dish such as Weisswurst sausage. For many bakeries, the pretzel still is the emblem of their trade.

New Year's pretzel in a Stuttgart bakery

Pretzels are part of various traditions and festivals especially in southern Germany and adjoining German-speaking speaking areas. In some places, it is a century-old custom to give somebody a sweet pretzel for good luck on 1. January. Sometimes children visit their godparents to fetch their New Years pretzel. On 1. May, lovestruck boys used to paint a pretzel on the door of the adored. On the other hand, an upside-down pretzel would have been a sign of disgrace. An old tradition on Palm Sunday dating back to 1533 is the outdoor pretzel market (Brezgenmarkt) in the Hungerbrunnen Valley near Heldenfingen.

Fountain in Speyer with pretzel boy statue

On Laetare Sunday in Luxembourg, the fourth Sunday in Lent, there is a festival called "Pretzel Sunday". Boys give their girlfriends pretzels or cakes in pretzel form.^[12] The size symbolizes how much he likes her. In return, if a girl wants to increase his attention, she will give him a decorated egg on Easter. The pretzel custom is reversed on Pretzel Sunday during leap years.^[13] This custom also still exists in some areas of the Swabian Alb.^[14] On the same occasion in Rhenish Hesse and the Palatinate, people have parades carrying pretzels mounted on colorful decorated poles.^[14]

Around the second weekend of July, from Friday to Tuesday, the German city of Speyer holds an annual festival or fair in honor of the pretzel called "Brezelfest", which is the largest beer festival in the Upper Rhine region and attracts around 300,000 visitors. The mayor opens the festivities on Friday afternoon tapping the first barrel of beer. On Sunday there is a parade with over 100 bands, floats and clubs participating from the whole region and pretzels are thrown among the crowds.

On the market square of Speyer, there is a fountain with a statue of a boy selling pretzels. The pretzel booths on the main street are permanently installed and were specially designed when the whole downtown area was re-done for the 2000th anniversary.^[15][16] There are various one-day pretzel fests and markets in other German towns such as in Kirchhellen,^[17] a borough of Bottrop, or in Kornwestheim.^[18]

[edit] Pretzels in the United States

Pretzel sticks

In the 18th century, southern German and Swiss German immigrants introduced the pretzel to North America. In time, many handmade pretzel bakeries dotted the Pennsylvania Dutch landscape and the pretzel's popularity spread.^[19] In 1850, the Sturgis bakery in Lititz, Pennsylvania, run by Julius Sturgis, became the first commercial pretzel bakery in the United States. Long wooden paddles, also known as "peels", were used by the baker and his helper to place the pretzels on a stationary stone or brick hearth in the oven. A wider peel was then used to remove the pretzels from the oven.^[20] The Bachman pretzel bakery was founded in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1884.^[21] The Anderson Pretzel Factory opened in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1889; today, Anderson calls itself the world's largest, producing 65 tons of pretzels daily. They initially made pretzels by hand from 1889 to 1955 when machines were added.^[22] Snyder's of Hanover was founded in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1909.^[23]

Pennsylvania today is the center of American pretzel history and production.^[24] Crispy pretzels have become a popular snack in the United States and Canada and come in many varieties. One American variety is yogurt-covered pretzels. Hard pretzels are also available with a sweet candy coating of chocolate, strawberry, and other flavors. Chocolate-covered hard pretzels are very popular, especially around Christmas time. Other serving possibilities include pretzels dipped in mustard or cheese. In the Philadelphia area, crumbled hard pretzels are a common accompaniment to ice cream.

Soft pretzels are also popular in some regions of the United States. Cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York are renowned for their soft pretzels.^[24][25] The annual United States pretzel industry is worth over $550 million.^[26] The average American consumes about 1.5 pounds (0.7 kg) of pretzels per year.^[27] Southeastern Pennsylvania, with its large German population, is considered the birthplace of the American pretzel industry and many pretzel bakers are still located in the area. Pennsylvania produces 80% of the nation's pretzels,^[28] and the average Philadelphian consumes about twelve times more pretzels than the national average.^[29]

Federal Baking Company, located in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1922 by Italian-American Edmund Nacchio. Nacchio followed his mother's recipe for pretzels when he opened the bakery. The company was continued by various family members for four generations until it was sold to J&J Snack Foods in 2000.^{[citation needed]} Federal Baking lays claim for being the oldest bakery making soft pretzels in the city and made a major impact on the popular culture of Philadelphia comfort foods. Street vendors sold them on street corners in wooden glass enclosed cases.^[30] It became a staple Philadelphia food for snacking at school, work, or home and considered by most to be a quick meal.^[31]

[edit] Important points in American pretzel history

1861: Sturgis' Bakery in Lititz, Pennsylvania becomes the first commercial pretzel bakery in the United States.^[23]

1884: Bachman's pretzel bakery is founded in Reading, Pennsylvania.^[32]

1889: The Anderson Pretzel Factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is founded. They made pretzels by hand from 1889 until 1955, when machines were added.^[33]

1909: Snyder's of Hanover is founded in Hanover, Pennsylvania.^[23]

1922: Federal Baking Company was founded in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Italian American Edmund Nacchio, following his mother's bakery recipe.^[31]

1935: The Reading Pretzel Machinery Company introduced the first automatic pretzel twisting machine.^[19]

1946: Tom Sturgis Pretzel Company is founded in Reading.^[34] By Reading's bicentennial two years later, there are at least 15 pretzel bakeries in the Reading/Berks area.^[31][35]

1963: The largest pretzel of its time, weighing 40 pounds and measuring 5 feet across, is baked by Joseph Nacchio of the Federal Baking Company.^[19]

1978: The first machine-produced soft pretzel was created at Federal Baking Company.^[31]

1993: The Pretzel Museum opens in Philadelphia, operated by the Nacchio family.^[24]

2003: Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declares April 26 National Pretzel Day to acknowledge the importance of the pretzel to the state's history and economy.^[36]

[edit] Pretzels in U.S. culture

A Philadelphia Recreation Department facility formerly identified as Manayunk Park located on the 4300 block of Silverwood Street was renamed by the City in 2004 as "Pretzel Park."^[37] The park design has pretzel like pathways and includes a public art work symbolizing a pretzel.^[38][39]

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pretzels

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Cookbook:Pretzel

Philadelphia portal

• Kringle

[edit] References