The pretzel is a kind of German Biscuit. It is brittle and twisted, with a glazed, salted surface. Pretzel comes from the Latin word pretiola, meaning a small reward. The pretzel was first made by monks in southern Europe as a reward for children who learned their prayers. It was shaped to represent the crossed arms of a child praying.
The first commercial pretzel bakery in the United States opened in Lititz, Pennsylvania, in 1861. Pretzels were once twisted by hand, and a few bakeries still use this method. But most use twisting machines today.
– From the book “I Didn’t Know That!” by Lavinia Dobler, 1978
Interesting . . . a praying child. What do you think?
Filed under: God, mind, spirituality | Tags: Sneeze, spirituality, thoughts
Why Do We Say “God Bless You” or “Gesundheit” When A Person Sneezes?
Long ago ancient people thought that the soul or spirit of a person was in the breath or air in the head. Not understanding the human body, people also believed that a sneeze might expel this spirit unless God prevented it. So it was important to say immediately, “God Bless You,” or “Gesundheit” (good health in German), or “Salud” (health in Spanish).
If a person from the Far East happened to be near when you sneezed, he or she would quickly clasp hands and bow toward you. This was a way of saying, “May your soul not escape from you!”
– From the book “I Didn’t Know That” by Lavinia Dobler, 1978
Filed under: Friends, God, friendship, love, stupidity, thoughts | Tags: spirituality, Thanks
I received a card from the family of Theresa Hummel. I wanted to share it.
Perhaps you sent a lovely card,
Or sat quietly in a chair:
Perhaps you sent beautiful flowers,
If so, we saw them there.
Perhaps you sent or spoke kind words
As any friend could say;
Perhaps you were not there at all
Just thought of us that day.
Whatever you did to console the heart
We thank you so much, whatever the part.
Tribute to Theresa Hummel
November 27, 1932 — August 6, 2009
