From the seventh-century monasteries of Northern Italy to the multi-million-dollar snack food industry of the twenty-first century, pretzels have been a mainstay for people around the world who crave a good and nutritious snack. Now to celebrate the world’s oldest snack food, the day of Friday, April 26, 2002, has been designated National Pretzel Day. Guiding the day’s festivities is Auntie Anne’s, Inc., a franchisor of hand-rolled soft pretzels.

From Sunday, April 14, through Thursday, April 25, customers visiting their participating Auntie Anne’s store can cast their vote for America’s favorite pretzel. After voting ends on Friday, April 26, each location will announce its winning pretzel flavor, and customers will have the opportunity to take advantage of special discounts and offers in honor of the winner.

On April 26, participating Auntie Anne’s stores will donate a portion of their day’s pretzel sales to their local Children’s Miracle Network affiliated hospital. Many stores will also hold special mall events in celebration of National Pretzel Day—and visit local radio and television stations, pretzels in hand, to solicit their help in determining their area’s favorite pretzel.

“Auntie” Anne Beiler began twisting pretzels in 1988. Today the company supports more than seven hundred pretzel locations in forty-two states and eleven international territories.

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