Many of us have become familiar with the National celebration days, from those acknowledging our siblings or pets, as well as almost any kind of food you can imagine. And, luckily, pretzels are included on the calendar. April 26 is National Pretzel Day, a day that you can not only spend time appreciating pretzels and their history but also eating the doughy treats—and, depending on where you go, you may be able to score them for free or a reduced price.
But before you dip that pretzel into some spicy mustard, you might find the experience more enjoyable once you understand the history of this knot of dough. The origins of the name “pretzel” are lost in history, but monks were likely involved. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, pretzel comes from the German brezel, which came from the Latin bracellus or brachiatellus, meaning “little arms” because the twist of the pretzel is reminiscent of arms folded in prayer. Other scholars say the first pretzels were called pretiolas (little rewards) and given by the monks to students who did a good job reciting prayers. They are also sometimes attributed (in legend, anyway) to German bakers who were held hostage by dignitaries.
The earliest pretzels were all soft. The hard, crunchy kind were likely invented in the 19th century in Pennsylvania. How much do Americans love pretzels? Consumers munch on approximately 1.5 pounds of pretzels each annually. What part of the country enjoys the salty snacks the most is up for debate. However, Philadelphia is the center of American pretzel production — both in hard and soft varieties.
Now that you’re well versed in pretzel lore, take a look at the National Pretzel Day freebies available on April 26.
- Auntie Anne’s – Free Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel available to Pretzel Perks members. This is their free rewards program that will also trigger their annual free birthday pretzel! If you don’t already have an account, now is the perfect time to register so that your free pretzel offer is waiting for you in your Pretzel Perks account. When joining, use promo code RYANE7068 to earn a free bonus reward.
- Ben’s Soft Pretzels – Make a minimum donation of $1, while in-store, to their partnered charity and receive a free original jumbo pretzel.
- Philly Pretzel Factory – They’re giving in-store customers a free pretzel, valued up to $1, with no purchase necessary. This was available from 7am-7pm on previous years and I expect that to be the same this year.
- Pretzelmaker – When asked if they’re doing anything in 2024, Pretzelmaker told me “Could be 👀🥨❤️” which is Corporate Speak for “yes, but we haven’t announced what the freebie is yet.” In previous years, they offered a free salted or unsalted pretzel.
- Wetzel’s Pretzels – Free Original Pretzel to all guests after 3pm.
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