The goal of this activity is to learn the origin of the pretzel.
1) Review History of the Pretzel:
When early Christians would pray, they would cross their arms and touch each shoulder with the opposite hand. They also fasted very strictly during lent, making their bread with only water, flour, and salt. A monk shaped this in the form of praying arms for children, and the pretzel was born!
Visit this website that can be read with your kids as well:
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=543
2) Get baking!
You can find the recipe in your Diving Deeper package. Here is the recipe just in case
3) Take a photo that will be uploaded in the submission form
4) Say a prayer before eating!
Prayer Option #1
Holy God, may these pretzel snacks remind us to always turn to you in prayer, Amen
Prayer Option #2
We beg you, O Lord, to bless these breads which are to remind us that Lent is a sacred season of penance and prayer. For this very reason, the early Christians started the custom of making these breads in the form of arms crossed in prayer. Thus they kept the holy purpose of Lent alive in their hearts from day to day, and increased in their souls the love of Christ, even unto death, if necessary.
Grant us, we pray, that we too, may be reminded by the daily sight of these pretzels to observe the holy season of Lent with true devotion and great spiritual fruit. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.