Luxembourg has lots of quaint traditions, but above all, Bretzelsonndeg is one really lovely example.

Every year, on the third Sunday of Lent, we celebrate ‘Bretzel Sunday’. On this day, a man should offer his beloved a sweet bretzel. If she accepts, she in return will give her man a chocolate egg for Easter. If she refuses, she gives him a basket – hence the Luxembourgish expression ‘hie krut de Kuef’ (he got the basket) if you get dumped… In leap years, the tradition reverses. Then, the woman is due to offer a bretzel in return for an Easter egg. You will find bretzels in every bakery in Luxembourg at this time of year, but if you really want to impress your love, I think you should bake the bretzel yourself with my foolproof recipe.