Celebrate National Pretzel Day at Old World Biergarten & German Deli

Celebrate National Pretzel Day – April 26th! 🥨

Whether you prefer a crunchy, salty snack from a bag or a warm, soft cinnamon-dusted twist, there’s no wrong way to enjoy a pretzel. On National Pretzel Day, the only question is: which kind will you choose?

The pretzel’s origins are as fascinating as its many flavors. While there are several theories, most agree it has Christian roots. According to The History of Science and Technology, an Italian monk is credited with creating the first pretzels around 610 AD. He shaped strips of dough to resemble arms folded in prayer, calling them pretiola—Latin for “little rewards”—as treats for children who learned their prayers.

Another theory traces the pretzel’s origin to a monastery in southern France. Some historians also link the iconic looped shape to a type of Greek ring bread once used as communion bread in monasteries over a thousand years ago. In the Catholic tradition, pretzels held religious meaning—not just for their shape, which resembled arms crossed in prayer, but also for their simple, fasting-friendly ingredients. The distinctive loops may have also had a practical function, allowing bakers to hang the pretzels on sticks protruding from central columns, as seen in Job Berckheyde’s 1681 painting.

Pretzels made their way to North America in the 19th century, thanks to Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants. Central Pennsylvania soon became home to numerous handmade pretzel bakeries, and the snack’s popularity quickly spread. By the 20th century, soft pretzels had become a beloved staple in cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York.