PRetzels were invented by an Italian monk as a bribe to get kids to memorize scripture.

In fact, the criss-crossed bits are supposed to represent the folded arms of pious children in prayer. He called the strips of baked dough that were folded to resemble arms crossing the chest, 'pretiola' ("little rewards").

In the 16th century, the German tradition of eating pretzels during Good Friday dinner was introduced. It is said that the shape of the pretzel is like that of praying hands.