Don’t you just love to walk into a shopping center or mall and catch the whiff of Aunt Annie’s Pretzels? It’s impossible for me to describe that scent but it is a smell that both excites and warms my wife. She loves soft pretzels! Even better is a trip to Shipshewana and Ben’s Pretzels. If you’ve never stopped at a Ben’s Pretzels, talk with me and I’ll be happy to give some personal recommendations. In short, everything is delicious!
Who would have thought that such a simple piece of twisted dough could bring such delight? The ingredients are simple: flour, water, yeast, sugar, salt, and butter or oil. Top your pretzel in coarse salt – LOTS of coarse salt – and have some dipping sauces like cheese or honey mustard.
The origin of the pretzel is up for some debate with most researchers tracing the origin back to 610 AD. From pretzel.com, it says, “An Italian monk teaching children in Northern Italy is said to have invented soft little pretzels and called them pretiola or little rewards, to reward children for learning their prayers. He is said to have made the treats with little arms forming the ‘knot’, to resemble little arms crossed of children in prayer.”1
It would seem that there is some credence to this story because Christianity, as well as the Catholic church, lay some ownership claims to pretzels. “They believe the pretzel shape represents the holy trinity, the three holes representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
“Soft pretzels using a simple recipe of only flour, water, and salt were used during Lent when Christians were not permitted to eat eggs, lard, or any dairy products.
“It eventually became a tradition on Easter morning to hide pretzels for the children in a pretzel hunt, instead of eggs for an Easter egg hunt like we do today. As a result, pretzels have become heavily associated with both Lent and Easter.”2
“The Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants introduced pretzels to North America in the 19th century. At this time, many handmade pretzel bakeries populated central Pennsylvania, and their popularity quickly spread. In the 20th century, soft pretzels became very popular in areas such as Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York.”3
Today is National Pretzel Day. How fitting considering the American history of pretzels and that Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell made this proclamation in 2003. Just to illuminate your knowledge, the Guinness World Records tells us that Pilsener, Industria La Constancia in El Salvador created the world’s largest pretzel in 2015. The pretzel weighed 1,728 pounds.4 Honestly, it didn’t look very appetizing and it sure would have taken a lot of cheese to make it palatable!
Perhaps I should preach on prayer today and serve hot pretzels as a sermon illustration!
That just excited some of you, I know. It wouldn’t work, though. Imagine the mess! Imagine the salt on the floor and in the cushions. Think about the cheese and other dips on the pretty white pages of the hymnals. Our custodian would probably quit after having that mess to clean up on Monday! Not only that but how could you use your Bible and take notes if your hands are full of pretzels? How about you just wait until after church to get your pretzel. For now, just use your imagination.
While we are doing that, let’s think about prayer. One week ago today, I shared in the devotional this same passage of Scripture that takes us back to the Triumphal Entry into the city of Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and did something that had the town talking. Matthew 21:12-13 says, “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (13) And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Jesus could have passed out some pretzels and said, “And let that be a reminder to you!”
Today in church, don’t be thinking about pretzels. Instead, think about praying. There should be a LOT of praying going on in the house of the Lord and there are certainly many things for which to pray. Spend time with someone, taking their needs to the Lord in prayer together.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)
1https://www.pretzels.com/blogs/news/the-complete-history-of-the-pretzel-a-twisted-tale
2Ibid.
3https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-pretzel-day-april-26
4https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-pretzel
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