Almond-flavoured love: how Luxembourg is preparing for Bretzelsonndeg

Every fourth Sunday in Lent, the country celebrates an unusual holiday - Bretzel Sunday (Bretzelsonndeg). It is a day when men, according to an old tradition, give their beloved a pretzel as a sign of sympathy. If the feelings are mutual, the woman in return presents an egg for Easter. In leap years, the order changes - women start the "game" and men respond.

According to the Luxembourg historian Alain Atten in a commentary for L'Essentiel, this ritual of "giving and receiving gifts" could once last for weeks. There was even an expression: if you didn't get an egg by Easter, don't expect a May wreath or a dance at the village fair. In popular culture, this meant that your love was unrequited.

For bakers and confectioners, "Bretzel Sunday" is one of the busiest days of the year. According to Carlo Bock of the Fédération des artisans, pretzels are especially plentiful in the Moselle region. To cope with the rush, the filling, almond decorations and puff pastry dough are prepared in advance - it tolerates freezing well and can be baked in large quantities.

The Federation of Craftsmen traditionally organises a festive pretzel parade. Last year, around 2,500 pretzels were handed out in one hour in the centre of Luxembourg. This year, the start of the festivities will begin as early as Tuesday, 25 March - a few days before the official date. Free bretzels will be distributed in Dudelange and Kirchberg to cheer up the mood and introduce more people to this romantic tradition.