December 12, 2023 – Gingerbread Houses

Today is National Gingerbread House Day! According to food historians, ginger has been used to season food and drinks for centuries. It was first used in China around 5,000 years ago for medicinal purposes. During the age of exploration, ginger eventually found its way to Europe.
It’s believed that gingerbread was first baked in Europe in the 11th century when returning crusaders returned with the tradition of spicy bread from the Middle East. According to French legend, gingerbread was brought to Europe in 992 by an Armenian Monk. He lived in France for 7 years and taught priests and other Christians how to make gingerbread.
Gingerbread as we know it today comes from Medieval European culinary traditions. Gingerbread bakers were part of professional guilds, and they were the only ones allowed to make it except at Christmas and Easter. Gingerbread cookies were a staple at Medieval fairs in England, France, Holland, and Germany. Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the idea of decorating the cookies, after she had some made to resemble dignitaries visiting her court.
The tradition of making decorated gingerbread houses started in the early 1800s in Germany. They surged in popularity after the publication of the Grimm’s fairytale “Hansel and Gretel”. These became popular at Christmastime, which came to America with Pennsylvanian German immigrants.
In 2013, a group in Bryan, TX broke the Guinness World Record for the largest gingerbread house. It was 2,500 square feet, and ingredients included nearly 3,000 pounds of brown sugar, 1,800 pounds of butter, and 7,200 eggs. It was all to benefit a hospital trauma center. Learn more here.