The name pizzelle comes from the Italian word "pizze" for round and flat. It has been called the oldest known cookie, and it’s believed to have originated in the Abruzze area of Italy centuries ago. Some people say the pizzelle made its debut at the village of Colcullo, during the Festival of the Snakes, when villagers celebrated a divine intervention that helped them expel the serpents overrunning the town. Others say it started at the village of Salle, where pizzelle are still baked today to celebrate the feast of Beato Roberto, a twelfth-century monk.
This is known for sure: Pizzelle became an important part of celebrations and feasts throughout Italy, with many families even designing their own unique irons to decorate their pizzelle with family crests and other symbols. To many Italians, there is no feast without pizzelle.
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