Baked snacks made from dough twisted into a knot or rod shape, usually salty and crunchy.
From German 'Brezel,' derived from Latin 'bracchium' meaning arm, because the twisted shape resembles crossed arms. The shape has medieval origins in Christian symbolism.
Pretzels' twisted knot shape actually comes from medieval Christian symbolism—the crossed loops were meant to represent arms in prayer—so this everyday snack has hidden religious meaning baked right into its form, dating back to the 1600s.
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