Germans take their pretzels seriously — rather, their brezels. Any true Bavarian will tell you pretzel is the incorrect spelling of the salty snack. I became a connoisseur during a recent trip to Munich. Offered at almost every meal, I greedily ate several delicious pretzels each day during my stay. I was surprised to hear the folklore associated with pretzels. There are several stories of the origin of its shape, many of which have religious connections. Some say God challenged a baker to bake a piece of bread that light could shine through three times. Others say it was a Lenten serving, fashioned to resemble nuns crossing their arms across their chests in prayer. People in different areas of Germany hold their pretzels differently. Some believe the largest hole represents the bottom, others the top. How do you hold your pretzel?

German immigrants (known as the Pennsylvania Dutch) introduced pretzels to the United States, beginning in Pennsylvania. In fact, Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County saw the first commercial pretzel bakery in the United States. The snack remains a popular cultural and culinary reference throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. Coming from the Philadelphia area, I, too, take my pretzels seriously. Soft pretzels are my favorite, though I don’t discriminate against other varieties. I fondly remember walking around the city when I was younger with my parents, soft pretzel in hand. A favorite treat in the summer was a cup of vanilla ice cream with a small crunchy pretzel on top, instead of a cherry. During my meals in Munich, a pretzel truly was the cherry on top.

— Katie Skrzek, advertising and editorial coordinator, eFlyer USA editor