Happy Gingerbread House Day ! ! ! 

A Brief History:
Origination: A beloved dish of the Armenian monk Gregory of Nicopolis introduced gingerbread to Europe circa 992 AD, where he instructed French Christians in its preparation. Given its frequent use in religious rituals, monks ensured that the gingerbread was robust enough to be shaped into representations of saints.

Photo by Anerma courtesy of Pixabay

Brothers Grimm/Hansel & Gretel: The Brothers Grimm are credited with popularizing the concept of the gingerbread house. In their story of Hansel and Gretel, they depict a malevolent witch residing in a house constructed from gingerbread. This imaginative idea quickly inspired the German gingerbread guilds, who began to create gingerbread houses for more celebratory purposes, crafting charming cottages adorned with the delightful confection.

An Icon to Manna: A cherished family tradition observed by numerous Americans during the Christmas season is the construction of gingerbread houses, which serves as a representation of family unity and the concept of home. While this practice is not rooted in religious customs, it serves as a reminder of the divine blessing of familial togetherness, for which we should express gratitude.

Symbolism of Faith: A medieval Christian legend recounts the tale of a fourth wise man who presented ginger to the rabbi who looked after him. The rabbi informed the wise man about the prophecy concerning the birth of a great king in Bethlehem, a name that translates to “House of Bread” in Hebrew.

Gingerbread House – Front courtesy of Openverse

Celebrated: The date of December 12^th is recognized National Gingerbread House Day every year.

A Few Facts:
I am sharing a few facts, and more, some trivia, some not trivial. . .

How Do I Keep the Walls and Rooftop Together? To effectively bond the walls of the house, it is recommended to utilize Royal Icing. This particular icing will dry to a firm consistency, ensuring that your structure remains intact throughout the holiday season, provided that it is not consumed by members of your household beforehand.

The Largest Gingerbread House in the World In 2013, the Texas A&M Traditions Club located in Bryan, Texas, constructed the largest gingerbread house in the world, as recognized by Guinness World Records. The club generated funds for charitable purposes by imposing admission fees for visitors to explore the life-sized structure, which featured functional gingerbread doors. Additionally, Jon Lovitch from New York has made his mark in the realm of gingerbread creations. Annually, he assembles a gingerbread village that is showcased at the New York Hall of Science. In 2017, this village was officially acknowledged by Guinness World Records as the largest, comprising 1,251 individual buildings.

Photo by Ksenia Yakovleva on Unsplash

The Present:
These days, we have the opportunity to dedicate our time to baking, cutting, and assembling to our utmost satisfaction. Kits simplify certain aspects of the process, allowing us to immediately engage in the creation of our winter wonderlands. Both children and adults really appreciate the beauty, flavor and the aura of the gingerbread house.

The Future:
Gingerbread House will always be a great and tasty way to celebrate the upcoming holidays! Let’s give and receive thanks with the holiday this great year and in the years to come. . .

FREEBIES & DEALS For National Gingerbread House Day:
FREE Gingerbread House Day: Fonts
FREE Gingerbread House Day: Crafts + Printable
FREE Gingerbread House Day: Sheet music
CHEAP Gingerbread House Day: Ideas, Crafts & Worksheets
FREE Gingerbread House Day: AT “Hey It’s Free”

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Gingerbread House — front and side courtesy of Openverse

Gingerbread House Day