The origin of the pretzel is unknown. One saying goes that a baker of Urach (in southwest Germany), having committed some misdeed punishable by death, was made an offer by the Count; "Bake me a cake through which the sun can shine three times and your life will be spared." The baker thus invented the pretzel and his life was saved.

German John's makes original south-German pretzels also in other shapes ~ not being in the life-threatening situation of that Uracher baker.