Gingerbread refers to a broad category of baked goods, typically flavored with ginger, cloves, nutmeg or cinnamon and sweetened with honey, sugar or molasses. It is so symbolic to the holiday tradition.
Have you ever wondered how certain foods and recipes have evolved, from cultural influences of the land and its people?
The popularity of these sweet treats ,during the holidays can be attributed to the belief that spices heated one up in the cold of the winter.
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Is gingerbread hard or soft?
- Gingerbread foods vary, ranging from a soft, moist loaf cake to something close to a ginger snap.
- A soft molasses and ginger cookie cut in various shapes, sometimes elaborately decorated.
Different forms of the sweet treat
No confection symbolizes the holidays quite like this one, in its many forms, from edible gingerbread houses to candy-studded gingerbread men to spiced loaves of cake-like bread.
In Medieval England, it simply meant ‘preserved ginger’ and was not applied to the desserts we are familiar with much until the 15th century.
The term “gingerbread” is now broadly used to describe any type of sweet treat that combines ginger with honey, treacle or molasses.
A bit of the “Gingerbread” history
Ginger root was first cultivated in China around 5,000 years ago, and was thought to have medicinal and magical properties. Some food historians say that the first known recipe for this sweet treat, dates from around 2400 BC in Greece.
Gingerbread is claimed to have been brought to Europe in 992 CE by the Armenian monk Gregory of Nicopolis. He taught baking to French Christians.In the 13th century, it was brought to Sweden by German immigrants (the Swedish nuns baked them to ease indigestion), and it also began to be made in Poland.
It was the custom to bake white biscuits and paint them as window decorations.In the 17th century, there is a first documented evidence of the trade of these biscuits.They were sold in monasteries, pharmacies, and town square farmers’ markets.
In Medieval England it was thought to have medicinal properties. One hundred years later, the town of Market Drayton in Shropshire, England became known for it, as is proudly displayed on their town’s welcome sign, stating that it is the “home of gingerbread”.
This sweet treat came to the Americas with settlers from Europe.Molasses, which was less expensive than sugar, soon became a common ingredient and produced a softer cake. The first American cookbook, American Cookery by Amelia Simmons published in 1796, contained seven different recipes for gingerbread.
How did gingerbread houses come to be?
They originated in Germany during the 16th century. The elaborate cookie-walled houses, decorated with foil in addition to gold leaf, became associated with Christmas tradition.
Their popularity rose when the Grimm Brothers wrote the story of Hansel and Gretel, in which the main characters stumble upon a house made entirely of treats deep in the forest. It is unclear whether or not these houses were a result of the popular fairy tale, or vice versa.
Why is Gingerbread a Christmas tradition? Click To Tweet
What are some holiday traditions you are fond of ?
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What is a gingerbread house made of?
It is a novelty confectionery shaped like a building that is made of cookie dough, cut and baked into appropriate components like walls and roofing. The usual material is crisp ginger biscuit made of gingerbread – the ginger nut.
Where is the largest gingerbread house located?
Coming in at 35.8 million calories and covering an area of 2520 square feet, or nearly the size of a tennis court, the 21-foot high house in Bryan, Texas, 90 miles northwest of Houston, has been declared the biggest ever by Guinness World Records.
Here is a youtube video that shows the gingerbread house in Texas
How do you keep this house fresh?
It’s relatively easy to store these cookies and decorated gingerbread men. Place cookies in a covered jar or tin or wrap in plastic or foil and keep in a cool, dry place.
How long does a gingerbread house last?
Why is Gingerbread a Christmas tradition? Click To TweetGingerbread Expiration Date
Open/Unopened | Pantry | Freezer |
---|---|---|
The Cake lasts for | 5-7 Days | 6-8 Months |
TheCookies last for | 2-3 Weeks | 6-8 Months |
The Houses last for | 3-4 Weeks | 6-8 Months |
GingerSnaps last for | 2-3 Weeks | 6-8 Months |
What is a gingerbread man ?
A gingerbread man is a biscuit or cookie, made of gingerbread, usually in the shape of a stylized human, although other shapes, especially seasonal themes are common too.

Who invented the first gingerbread man?
The first documented instance of figure-shaped gingerbread biscuits was at the court of Elizabeth I of England.
Queen Elizabeth I (reigned 1558 – 1603) is credited with the invention. She would delight visiting dignitaries with gingerbread men made in their own likenesses.

Gingerbread man- The book
‘The Gingerbread Man’ is a classic American folklore for children, that tells the story of this man as he escapes from the oven and outruns all the creatures that try to catch him.
This classic tale captures a child’s interest, page after page, as they take their imagination on a magical journey through timeless stories and adventures.
This irresistible retelling of the Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth is a perfect treat for cookie lovers everywhere.

Picture courtesy : The net
Why is gingerbread a Christmas tradition?
The tradition of making decorated gingerbread houses started in Germany in the early 1800s. German bakers began baking ornamented fairy-tale houses of lebkuchen Bakers would make them shaped as hearts, stars, animals, and more.
It would also be extravagantly decorated. In the winter months, Europeans would dip the decorated bread into wine and hang them from the trees.These became popular during Christmas, a tradition that came to America with Pennsylvanian German immigrants.

Links to my blogposts on holiday traditions
- Dear Santa….
- How and when did Christmas Tree tradition start?
- Why is Gingerbread a Christmas Tradition?
- Why do we put Oranges in Christmas Stockings?
- Why do people kiss under the mistletoe?
- Get your kitchen holiday ready!
- Unleash the holiday cheer!
- Holiday Gift Ideas for the Bakers in your Life
- Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Creating your own holiday traditions
Create your own winter wonderland this holiday season by indulging in the fun of making gingerbread, be it homes or cookies.
You can keep the decorations elegant and simple or go over the top if you wish. Irrespective of how you do it, it’s loads of fun for the whole family to get involved with over the Christmas break.
Go on, give it a try or make it a new holiday tradition at your home this season.
Happy Holidays!
For more such holiday posts, check out the links below:
Gingerbread is my favorite holiday flavor. I haven’t tried making the cookies yet, though – maybe this is the year! Thanks!
You are most welcome. Enjoy! Happy Holidays!
I love gingerbread! I just read about how gingerbread houses came to be, while researching Christmas traditions from around the world.
Thank you. Happy Holidays!
We personally have never made gingerbread houses. I often make gingerbread men as part of my holiday baking though! Lebkuchen in the German version of a soft gingerbread, and that is definitely part of my family traditions!
So nice to know about Lebkuchen, the German version of gingerbread. Have fun baking! Happy holidays!
How interesting. I never knew how gingerbread was tied to Christmas.
Thank you. Isn’t it amazing how much history is behind the traditions we follow during the holidays & festivals? What better time to learn more about it than now, , while we celebrate tasting al the gingerbread cookies this season! Happy Holidays!
Gingerbread houses were a fun tradition in our home when my girls were growing up; such a fun competition!
Holidays are for remembering all the good times we share with our loved ones.I bet the holiday traditions will continue with the same sentiments adding more of their own in your children’s homes too. That is the beauty of these wonderful holiday traditions that link many generations in a bond of love and joy. Happy Holidays!
Love reading the history of gingerbread and why it’s a Christmas tradition! I love building gingerbread houses with my kids and recently started baking gingerbread cookies with our Christmas cookies each year.
Thank you. How fun! Enjoy sharing the stories and baking the gingerbread cookies with your little ones. Happy Holidays!
Thank you for the information! I absolutely love gingerbread anything!
My pleasure. Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays to you!
Thank you, and to you as well.
How interesting! I never gave it a thought to be honest.
Yup, it’s during these festive times that we actually pause to think how these traditions acme to be. To learn about them, makes it all the more special during the holidays. Enjoy!
This was so fun to read! I loved learning all about this great tradition!
Thank you, so glad to know you enjoyed our blog post and found it informative. Happy Holidays!
Fun to read about the history of foods. Always learn something!
Totally! We live & learn each day. Happy Holidays!
This article came to me at a very coincidental time. I literally just finished making my first Gingerbread House EVER! I don’t know if it will make it into my tradition but it was really cool to do and I love that it’s a part of yours <3
Thank you.That makes me so happy to hear that our blogpost reached you right on time when you just finished making your FIRST gingerbread house.When we write, we don’t really know how many lives it will touch and how many lives it will change, but to know that it has even touched and changed one life makes all the difference in a writer’s life. Whether gingerbread becomes part of your family tradition, or if it was just the fun of trying to make it for the FIRST time, now, you will always remember the story behind it, through our blog post every time you see a gingerbread house and that makes me so happy. Enjoy your gingerbread house this year & perhaps in the years to come, if it makes up to being a family tradition.May it always, remind you of the joy & fun you had while making it from scratch. Happy Holidays!
LOL that pic of Queen Elizabeth next to the Gingerbread Men cracked me up. I never knew that or thought of the correlation until I saw them side by side!
Ha Ha Ha! Indeed! Imagine her wit and wisdom, in delighting her visiting dignitaries with gingerbread men made in their own likenesses.Some creativity there for sure 🙂 Gingerbread men have travelled a long way 😀
So cool! I had no idea that there was so much history behind Gingerbread. I thought Hansel and Gretel was because of gingerbread popularity- not the other way around!
Thank you. So glad to know that you found our blogpost helpful and informative. Happy Holidays!
I learned about this Christmas chocolates and such came from Germany. There’s a state here in the US where most Germans relocate during the war. They have most of the Germans chocolate and such. This article reminds me of that article I stumbled before! I learned more about ginger bread and how it was born. Thanks!
You are most welcome. Yes, I too learnt that the German settlers did influence the holiday traditions in many ways in this country. It’s interesting to know how food and music connects people from all walks of life. Enjoy the holiday season!
Thank you for sharing the Gingerbread history.
You are most welcome. Happy Holidays!
This is amazing! I learned so much about gingerbread and the history! I’m going to read this to my grandchildren! Thank you!!
Thank you. That makes me so happy to hear you say that and I am picturing you reading the gingerbread story to your grand children, this holiday season.What a cozy and beautiful picture it paints. I’m sure they will carry the sweet memories you created for them during the holiday season, much into their adult lives.That’s how I remember, my grand mom’s too! Happy Holidays!
So funny! We just decorated gingerbread houses yesterday. 🙂 This is really great information.
How sweet. So our blogpost on gingerbread reached you right on time! 😉 Thank you, for your kind words.If it was a regular year and not 2020, this week would be the time we would go watch all the gingerbread displays in our city library. This year none of that is possible. Enjoy your gingerbread houses with your little ones.Happy Holidays!
How interesting! I love gingerbread, and love what a rich history it has
Thank you. Absolutely and so important to share these stories with our little ones at home, so the lovely holiday tradition continues in years to come.Happy Holidays!
What an interesting history gingerbread has.
Thank you.