Have a Baby and a Bagel?

                           

         

I love babies and I love bagels, but I have to admit I have never thought about babies and bagels together. Where did bagels come from? How about the early 17th century in the Jewish Community of Krakaw, Poland.  They were given to women who had just given birth!

I'm having a little difficulty picturing this in modern times.  The husband comes into the hospital room not with flowers or balloons, but with a dozen bagels? Would that be with or without cream cheese? 

A bagel signified "The Circle of Life" and the longevity of life for the baby. Again, I'm picturing something very different in my head like, "The Lion King" and Simba and a lot of animals running around, but there are no bagels.

Back in the old days they would give expectant mothers and midwives bagels. This would give good fortune and even keep away evil spirits from the baby.  And the best part, at times they would wear bagels on a necklace or just have bagels in the birthing room.

I hope you find this amusing, because I can't picture a bagel hanging from a necklace or a stack of bagels in the birthing room.  What is more shocking: thinking about what they used to do with bagels, or would a 17th century woman be shocked at how many bagels we eat and all the different kinds of bagels?

I don't know the answer, but I'm never going to look at a bagel or a baby the same way.