2021 Daily Devotion - Day 370
The Legend of the Lenten Pretzel: Legend has it that the modern pretzel actually has its origin in the ancient Lenten celebration. The established church at the time did not allow the eating of meat or dairy products during the observance of Lent. As such, people would make bread from a simple mixture of flour, water, and salt. As the legend unfolds, it is purported that a monk in a monastery was looking for a way to make use of the leftover scraps of dough that didn’t fit into the loaf pans. He wondered if he might be able to use it to bless the hungry children to whom the monastery ministered. His idea was to roll the dough scraps into long thin ropes, which he would then shape into the image of hands folded over the heart in prayer. He called them “pretiolas” (which means “little rewards” in Latin). He then distributed them to the children in exchange for a recitation of a memorized prayer; explaining the pretzel’s shape and reminding the children to always pray and trust God. While...