If there was ever a food that deserved its very own holiday, albeit an unofficial one, it's the pretzel.
Don't believe me? Well, just sit back, and let me break it down for you why pretzels are so amazing.
You can eat them as a snack or as part of a meal. You can bite into one that's soft as a cloud or munch on some crunchy ones. They're not messy. They're not bland but just salty enough to satisfy. They go great with sporting events, concerts, movies or just an afternoon snack at work. And if you cover them in chocolate, forget about it. That is truly heaven in food form.
The pretzel even has a long history. It dates back to 610 A.D. when Italian monks served their students baked dough twisted into the shape of crossed arms, which was the traditional prayer posture at the time. The custom then spread throughout medieval Europe, and the interlocking "arms" would come to symbolize everything from the Holy Trinity to good luck to love. It's rumored that pretzels made their way to America with the pilgrims on the Mayflower, although it's probably more likely that German immigrants brought them over when they started settling in Pennsylvania in the early 1700s.
I could go on and on, but the fact that a National Pretzel Day exists speaks volumes. This year's National Pretzel Day falls on Sunday, April 26, and you're going to want to remember that date because, as with any celebration of food worth its weight in calories, you can score some free pretzels at a few retailers across the country. Here's where you can have a twisted time on National Pretzel Day.
1. Auntie Anne's
Auntie Anne's has a deal for all you current pretzel fanatics out there. If you downloaded and registered the pretzel chain's "My Pretzel Perks" app by 11:59 p.m. EST on April 23, you can get a free original or cinnamon sugar pretzel from April 24 to April 26. If you didn't download the app in time, you'll just have to wait until next year for a free pretzel or, you know, just buy one.
2. Pretzelmaker/Pretzel Time
Now this is what I'm talking about. If you're really looking to snag a free pretzel on National Pretzel Day — and who isn't? — Pretzelmaker and Pretzel Time are your hook-ups. However, you will still have to do a little bit of work for it. If you say a tongue twister (Pretzelmaker offers this one up as an example: "Pretzelmaker prepares perfectly pleasing pretzels for National Pretzel Day!"), you get a free standard salted or unsalted pretzel with a limit of one per customer. Think you can handle that?
3. Wetzel's Pretzel's
You also have to say the magic words for a free pretzel at Wetzel's Pretzels on National Pretzel Day. Say the phrase, "My name is (your first name) Wetzel and I'd like a free pretzel," although this may or may not be true. If you are in fact a Wetzel, you can also show your driver's license, a piece of mail or another form of documentation to prove it and get a free pretzel.
4. Philly Pretzel Factory
If you live near a Philly Pretzel Factory, you can stop by one of its locations for one free pretzel on Sunday. But you better get there fast. The first 100 customers at each location will receive one free pretzel every day in May. Unfortunately, Tim Tebow pretzels are not part of this deal.
[H/T Money]
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page
Photo: Razvan Orendovici | Flickr
