Àlles Beschte zem Neije johr, all the best for the new year. We will hear this sentence in Alsace until the end of January, after that it will be too late. But in the first days of January you might be able to taste the neijjohrsbratschtall. New Year’s Pretzel. Yes, ok, thank you, the Hopla Guys, but we don’t sing with our mouths full. This neijjohrsbratschtall, a large pretzel in slightly sweet brioche dough, is the one of happiness that we wish for the New Year. Our ancestors showed a particular attachment to pretzels: looking at the sun through its interlacing, they saw the star three times!
Pretzel comes from Latin brachium, so I said brachium which means arm, by analogy to its appearance of crossed arms, the pretzel, mainly known in its salty form, was originally a ritual cake related to solar worship. And right now, no wonder we want to see the sun again, rather three times than one. On New Year’s Day, in exchange for wishes of happiness, the Pfätter and the Marrän, godfathers and godmothers, used to offer their godchildren this sweet pretzel, in brioche dough, gross wie’n e Schiertor, that is – that is, as big as a barn gate!
Calm down, eh, Mr. Lucchini, of course, size is metaphorical, I’m not talking about indigestion, otherwise. Taste it, share it, a happy new year 2022 for all!