NEWS ARTICLES
History of the Pretzel
The pretzel’s history reflects a blend of religious symbolism, culinary innovation, and cultural adaptation. From its monastic origins as a Lenten treat to its role in guilds, legends, and modern snack culture, the pretzel has maintained its iconic twisted shape that has endured popularity across centuries. Timeline and Evolution The pretzel is believed to have been invented around 610 AD by a monk in Italy, who shaped strips of dough into the form of folded arms in prayer to reward children for learning their prayers during Lent. These early pretzels were called “pretiola” (little rewards) or “bracellae” (little arms), and were made from a simple mixture of flour,…
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Oktoberfest by the Numbers
Did you attend our 2025 Oktoberfest celebration held Sept. 26 to 27 and Oct. 3 to 5? It was a big one! A lot of planning, care and coordination went into each day of festivities for this annual event, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of hundreds of generous volunteers who assisted with set-up, site build, booth management, cooking, decorating, cleanup and other event support. Additionally, the Oktoberfest Committee and Club manager oversaw the ordering of all supplies to ensure everything was where it needed to be, when it needed to be there. Here are some of…
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Karneval through the Decades
Join us Saturday, Jan. 18 as we wrap up our ‘Fifth Season’ with a very special celebration recognizing 60 years of Karneval – a cornerstone social commitment of the German American Societies in San Diego. With royalty and Elferrat at the helm, your 2024-25 Karneval Committee and Members have planned a fantastic event with performances by the San Diego KinderTanzGruppe and Prinzengarde, the Anaheim KarnevalsGesellschaft, and a post-show dance party led by DJ Craig. The bar will be open all night! Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner will be served from 6 to 7 p.m., and guests will enjoy music…
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GERMAN AMERICAN SOCIETIES OF SAN DIEGO 