Where the word “bagel” comes from is unclear. The etymology can offer no specific derivation. Whether it is German or Yiddish is not certain even among experts. The same applies to the history of bagels. While it did not originate in Boston or any other New World city, it did, eventually become popular here.
Early History
The early history of bagels is wrapped in mythology. It includes reference to the creation of bagels by a Jewish baker as a thank-you to King Jan III Sobieski of Poland for saving the city of Vienna, Austria in 1683 from invading Ottoman Turks. However, research indicates that the bagel had existed long prior to this momentous occasion, perhaps – or this could be another myth, as early as ancient Egypt.
Bagels were definitely available in the Jewish ghettos by the 15th century. In particular, it found favor in the Polish shtetl. It was from here, that bagels became an integral part of Jewish folklore. It took on a variety of symbolism including:
* A ring
* Continuity
In the latter role, it appeared frequently at various important rituals and ceremonies including funerals and circumcision.
Bagels Immigrate to America
As the Eastern European Jews joined in the great adventure across the ocean to Canada and America, they brought bagels with them. This bread made its way to cities such as New York, Boston and Philadelphia before branching out elsewhere. Jewish bakeries began to produce bagels wherever Jewish workers found employment. In New York, the garment district had bakeries in basements – the smell wafting to the streets above.
With the arrival of bagels came Bagel Bakers Local 338 in Manhattan (1915). It was to thrive until in 1960 Dan Thompson invented a reliable bagel producing machine. Until then commercialization and the ability to freeze and truck bagels across the country aided the battle against homemade bagel producing bakeries. The latter was courtesy of the now famed Harry Lender. Before this happened, bagel bakers had begun to spread to other parts of the United States, including such cities as Boston. Chain bagel shops sprung up. They have continued to thrive into the present some baking bagels the old way – by hand.
Bagels Today
In Boston, like everywhere else across the United States, the bagel is a fixture in many bakeries and fast food outlets. You can have a plain bagel or enjoy a bagel sandwich. The bagel has even made a foray into space. In 2008, Gregory Chamitoff, a Canadian-born astronaut brought 18 sesame seed bagels to the International Space Station via the Space Shuttle. Proof positive that bagels have adapted to almost anything that history can throw at the
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