It is said that, in 1683, a Jewish baker in Vienna, Austria was looking for a way to thank the King of Poland for having protected his compatriots from the invading Turks. He created a small bread in the form of a stirrup (a ''beugel'' in Austrian), which pleasantly reminded the King, who loved riding, of his favorite hobby.

Adopted by the Polish, bagels became the official gifts offered to new mothers upon the birth of a child. They are even mentioned in the civil registers of communities of that era. Bagels were also used as nutritious teething rings that babies could easily chew and manipulate.

When bagels arrived in Russia, they were given the name "bubliki" They were sold at market stands and on city streets. Because of their circular form, they were said to bring happiness, and were believed to have magical powers. There even seem to have been songs about bagels!

(Source : The Bagels' Bagel Book by Marilyn and Tom Bagel)