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| One of the pretzels I bought at M&S |
On Wednesday, I wrote about my belief that Christians need to rediscover that profound fast which Lent was once known for. In the same post, I also briefly mentioned the old tradition - but one that was new to me - of eating pretzels during the Lenten season. It seems that these savoury snacks were especially invented for the purpose of fasting during Lent - as a replacement for luxury foods.
In my innocence, or naïvety, I thought that pretzels only came in the shape of those party-type nibbles that are sometimes found next to peanut bowls and canapés. So, until I began researching the history of the pretzel last week, I had no idea that they come in all sizes, and that big ones can actually be eaten as a light collation or even as substitute to main meals.
Anxious to find a proper pretzel, I thought I'd have to trawl around London to find some specialist baker. Seeing that I had resolved to try and live on pretzels for the Fridays of Lent, I didn't fancy the prospect of having to travel far every week to find one. So imagine my delight when I found some just round the corner from my flat!
This is where M&S comes in...
Whilst stocking up on some veggie soup at the local Marks & Spencer's on Ash Wednesday - before heading into Westminster Cathedral to hear the world-renowned Choir sing Allegri's Miserere - I noticed a sign around the bakery. It read something like: "New item in stock". Just underneath the sign were the most wonderful looking pretzels that I have ever seen - though, the fact that I was yet to eat that day may have made them appear more appealing than usual!
It seems, from what one of the customer services assistants told me, that stocking pretzels during Lent is very much a tradition in his shop. This is something I never knew before - and I speak as one who has not only shopped at M&S most of his life, but also as someone who even worked for the company for a short while!
I bought one of these big pretzels for Ash Wednesday and one for the following Friday. Not only are they tasty, but they also provide just the right amount of energy needed for those who wish to cut back and fast during Lent. I can highly recommend them!
3 comments:
Is there anything significant in the design of the pretzel? Some symbolic meaning perhaps?
Yes, apparently it represents arms folded in prayer. At the time that pretzels were invented, it was common for Christians to pray with arms folded across the chest in the form of a cross. To this day, those who belong to the Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches (as well as some Oriental Churches) still pray in this way. They also, on the whole, receive holy communion with arms folded across the chest - in a similar way to the design of a pretzel.
They're quite expensive aren't they! I wanted to find a multi-pack but no joy, £1.05 a piece in M&S!
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