17th Day of Lent

For Families & Children

There are many common customs that have their origins in ancient Lenten practices. Re-embracing some of these practices with purpose can help to inject new meaning and power into our spiritual devotion.

Symbols have the power to impact us in deep and lasting ways. Advertisers understand this and capitalize on the fact that symbol can penetrate more rational ways of knowing and deeply into the subconscious. One has only to think of the Nike “swoosh” to recognize how powerfully symbol can impact the human psyche. This is especially true for children, who often internalize complex concepts better through story and symbol than through discursive explanation. Without words being spoken, symbols can be powerful reminders that draw one’s attention to the presence of God.

One meaningful food symbol that can be eaten during Lent is the pretzel. Tradition says that a monk created the first pretzels for Lent for children and to distribute to the poor for sustenance and as symbols of prayer. The recipe for this small, personal bread was simple and did not require the rich fats restricted in Lent, but merely flour, salt and water. Our modern pretzels still show the original form, representing arms crossed over the chest, an ancient prayer posture. Our word “pretzel” evolved over time from a Latin word meaning “little arms” (bracellae). The earliest depiction of a pretzel is preserved in a Vatican Library manuscript dating from the fifth century, and in some small towns in Europe, pretzels are still eaten only as a Lenten food.

Some people and families “give up” something for Lent to express intent to seek more of God’s presence. Pretzels can be an *addition* to our Lenten practice, each one a little reminder of our intention to submit ourselves to our loving and gracious God.

During Lent this year, buy some pretzels to eat and share with friends and family, or make your own. You may want to share some with others who seem most in need of God’s love and provision. As you eat the pretzels, let them remind you of your desire to pray and submit to a gracious God who loves to fill us with good things!

Before you eat the pretzel, try crossing your arms over your chest in the ancient way, and say a simple prayer such as:

God, please wrap your arms around us with your loving embrace. We ask you to bless these pretzels and all of our food. We know that all good things come from you, and we want our eyes to be open to seeing your Kingdom among us more and more. Help us to embody your Kingdom with everything we do- in the way we eat, in how we spend our time, in the way we speak to others and in how we use what you have given us. Help us to care about the things you care about. Help us to be hungry for you and your love, the way Jesus teaches us, and to spread that love to others who are hungry, in the same way Jesus did. Amen.


Here is a simple recipe for soft pretzels you can make at home:

HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZELS

INGREDIENTS:
1 tbsp honey (or sugar)
1½ cups lukewarm water (100-110 degrees F)
1 envelope active dry yeast or equivalent
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour
1 egg, beaten (optional)
Coarse or kosher salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add honey to the water; sprinkle in the yeast and stir until dissolved.

2. Add salt, blend in the flour and knead the bread until smooth.

3. Lightly flour hands and cutting surface. Cut dough into pieces. Roll them into ropes and twist into pretzel shapes—bring the ends of the dough down and twist one over the other once. Lift the ends up and lay them on the curved top of the dough to form a pretzel shape.

4. You can make large or small pretzels, but to cook at the same rate, they need to be one size.

5. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Brush (very lightly) with beaten egg, or mist to dampen lightly with water. Sprinkle with course salt (optional).

6. Bake at 425 for 12-15 minutes until pretzels are golden brown.
(adapted from A Continual Feast, Evelyn Birge Vitz, copyright 1985)
Soft pretzels can also be made easily from frozen or fresh bread dough by allowing bread to rise and then following steps 3 through 6 above.

Young children can learn how pretzels originated from Eric Carle’s book Walter the Baker, copyright Aladdin 1998.