Bretzelsonndeg (Pretzel Sunday)

Pretzel Sunday, or ‘Bretzelsonndeg’ as locals call it, is a celebration of love taking place on the 4th Sunday of Lent. Traditionally, a man should offer a pretzel (a sweet puff pastry with fondant icing and almonds) to his sweetheart as a token of his love. If the woman reciprocates the feelings, she will in return offer him an egg on Easter day. In the unfortunate event that she is not interested, the man will be given an empty basket, hence the Luxembourgish expression “De Kuerf kréien” (to be given the basket). In leap years, the roles are reversed: women have to offer their sweetheart a pretzel while men have to pick between an egg or a basket.