We all had pretzels at least once in our lives, but how many among us know they have Italian roots? Legend has it that pretzels, one of the world’s oldest baked snacks, originated in 7th-century Italy in the Aosta Valley, where they were crafted by a monk to inspire young students.

During a time when education was heavily tied to religious practice, this creative servant of God wanted to encourage children to learn their prayers, so he shaped leftover dough into what resembled folded arms—a common prayer posture back then. He named the treats pretiola, or “little rewards” in Latin, presenting them as small prizes to motivate the children.