Pretzels are widely believed to have been invented by a monk in Northern Italy around 610 AD. According to popular legend, the monk created pretzels as a special treat to reward children for learning their prayers. He shaped strips of dough to resemble crossed arms in prayer, calling them "pretiola," which means "little rewards" in Latin. This design was meant to symbolize the prayer position of Christians. Pretzels initially were soft and squishy bread, similar to the soft pretzels of today, and were made from a simple mixture of water, flour, and salt, making them suitable for consumption during Lent when certain foods were restricted.
The pretzel's knot-like shape was also seen as having religious significance, representing the Holy Trinity with its three holes. The snack spread across Europe during the Middle Ages and became associated with Lent, fasting, and prayers. Over time, pretzels gained cultural importance in Germany, where they became tied to baking guilds and traditions, and German immigrants later brought pretzel-making to the United States, especially Pennsylvania.
In summary, pretzels were most likely invented by European monks, with the most commonly told origin story attributing their invention to an Italian monk around 610 AD as a reward for prayer, symbolized by the unique twisted shape.