Jim, Vivvy, and I usually walk around the mall for exercise late Saturday afternoons. When we get home, we indulge in big, hot pretzels. Pretzels didn’t originate as an after-walk-snack. They were usually eaten once a year, during Lent. Pretzels first became popular as a Lenten food for Christians in the seventh century. The word Pretzel comes from a German word that means “little arms.” Ancient people used to pray with their arms across their chests. The twisted shape of pretzels resembles two arms crossed in prayer. Today, both hard and soft pretzels still bear this shape.

Christians in the seventh century were not given a choice about observing Lent. It was the law. Everyone followed strict rules about what they could eat during the season of Lent. Meat, dairy, fats, and eggs were all off-limits from Ash Wednesday through Easter. Because of this law, a monk created a simple recipe of salt, water and flour, to give the people some dietary enjoyment.

Pretzels were made with inexpensive ingredients that followed the Lent fasting rules of the time. Monks would give those students who recited their prayers correctly, pretzels as a reward. This made pretzels popular. It then became customary to give pretzels to townspeople who were poor on certain days of Lent. I think it would be a great practice to resurrect!

Just as Christians did in the Middle Ages, I think we should give pretzels to each other as gifts during Lent! Pretzel Prayer: We ask You, O Lord, to bless these braids of bread whenever they are eaten to remind us that Lent is a sacred season of penance and prayer. May we, like the early Christians, keep the holy purpose of Lent alive in our hearts day today. Grant us, we pray, to be reminded by the sight of pretzels to observe Lent with dedication and loyalty to Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.