Gingerbread Home: Under Construction

This blog was written by Sonoma State University Communications Intern Abby Gabor.

‘Tis the season of Gingerbread. Trader Joe’s aisles may be lined with gingerbread flavored snacks, the cocktail waitress might be serving ginger snaps at the company Christmas, but what everyone looks forward to this holiday season is the Gingerbread cookies.

What some may not know is that gingerbread can be traced back to Medieval times when the crusaders brought back the Middle East’s custom spicy bread. It was carried far and wide thanks to the customary ginger ingredient which preserved it during its travels. As the bread spread through Europe different culinary approaches were taken to its shape. The monks in Germany began to transform gingerbread into a recognizable brand in the 13th century. Germany became the “gingerbread Capitol of the World.” As the globe transformed and medical advances became more prominent, Swedish nuns discovered that gingerbread eased indigestion in the 1400’s.

400 years later Germany once again took credit for another gingerbread masterpiece. The first ever gingerbread house was a result of a Grimm’s fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel. The gingerbread house became a popular Christmas tradition and was transferred to America with the German immigrants. And that is how gingerbread homes became an Christmas celebratory tradition.

Now there are gingerbread house making seminars and competitions that compel the creative mind to develop a candied house that is edible and beautiful.

Some families, like my own, dedicating an entire night to creating a gingerbread masterpiece. At our gingerbread party all the families attending each get their own gingerbread home. Among the children and parents, a clear theme must be developed, and usage of specific candies must be used. The winner is determined by an uninterested party, and left the only gingerbread house standing by the end of dessert.

Traditions are extremely fun and important around the holiday season. Gingerbread has been a cultural tradition of health and celebration for centuries. Why not incorporate it in your own family traditions this year!
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