Unknown Origin, Possibly Histories.
Bagels are one of the most loved breakfast breads, lunch breads, or anytime breads, really. Learn the two most popular origin stories and decide for yourself which may be the true bagel history.
Bagel History: Two Popular Origin Stories
From the German Pretzel
The earliest origin story for the bagel dates back to the 14th century when Germans migrated to Poland and they brought their pretzels which were common in German monasteries. The pretzel evolved into obwarzanek, a circular roll with a hole in the middle. The bread was consumed on Catholic feast days and often eaten during Lent instead of pastries.
For the King
A more popular bagel story stems from 1683 when a baker in Vienna created a tribute to Jan Sobieski III, the King of Poland at the time who led forces to save Austria from Turkish invaders. He made a hard roll in the shape of a riding stirrup (known in German as a “bruggel” and in Austrian as a “beugel”) to honor his king’s favorite hobby, horseback riding.
Bagels in America
While the origins are largely unknown and debated, one factual story comes from the late 19th century when Jewish immigrants from Poland brought their love and recipes for bagels with them to the Americas.
The popularity of the bread was rooted in the fact that the boiling and baking process made the bagel stay fresher for longer – ideal for the working class. By the 1930s, cream cheese was invented and became the perfect partner spread on bagels.
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