You love them in all forms — but both hard and soft pretzels are known best for their fun, original shape. Resembling a knot or a bow, they are a wonderful salty (or sweet!) snack. And as it turns out, they have quite an intriguing history behind them.
According to Wonderopolis, pretzels were invented by a monk way back in 610 A.D. They were baked as a reward for kids, meaning that even back then, food was a huge motivator in bringing out success. But the shape wasn’t meant to look like a tied rope or a present topper — instead, the shape was meant to represent someone praying. That means that pretzels might actually have a religious background.
Of course, this is all based on stories. It’s pretty hard to get an accurate record of when or how something was created when it’s as old as pretzels are. Still, it makes a lot of sense. The fact that pretzels aren’t a forbidden snack during Lent also makes it seem as if they were favored by Christians.
Another story that made the rounds was that they were invented in Germany by bakers who were being held hostage. It’s an epic-sounding tale, but probably doesn’t have much truth behind it.
One thing’s for sure — pretzels aren’t going anywhere. Back in 2017, Campbell’s acquired one of the most well-known pretzel companies — Snyder’s of Hanover — in a deal that was valued at $4.9 billion. The second most well-known pretzel company, Rold Gold, is currently owned by Frito-Lay. The brand has been around since 1917.
Next time you eat pretzels, you’ll definitely be paying even closer attention to their unique shape.
