How the Tradition Started: Gingerbread house

How the Tradition Started:

Gingerbread house

by Melissa Troncozo

​Why is gingerbread called gingerbread?

The term gingerbread is an old french word, which actually means “preserved ginger”. The root was first cultivated in ancient China and was eventually discovered that it helped to preserve both flour and meat. Because of this, ginger was baked into little crisps that eventually became cookies in Western Europe. These cookies or “fairings” as they would be called at the time, grew wide popularity at fairs, hence the name. Many fairings were decorated with gilded edges and would be the foundation of what would today be known as the gingerbread house. ​

Multiple Choice

Why is gingerbread called gingerbread?

• Ginger helped to preserve flour so it was baked into little crip cookies and bread.

• Ginger was an old french word which means "preserved ginger"

• Ginger was first cultivated in Ancient China.

​What is a gingerbread house?

​A gingerbread house is a confectionery house usually made from a hardened ginger biscuit, often referred to as a “ginger nut”. This house is typically decorated with an assortment of frosting and candied elements. This practice stems from the tradition of baking ginger into small cookies, called snap cookies during European and North American holidays. The general characteristics of a gingerbread house is that the end product should resemble some form of architect, but nowadays, it is very loosely applied. A gingerbread house can be made to look like anything, with the important rule of it being constructed entirely of edible items, namely candy and gingerbread. 

Multiple Choice

What is a Gingerbread house?

• A gingerbread house is made only from ginger and nothing else.

• A gingerbread house is a confectionery house usually made from a hardened ginger biscuit, often referred to as a “ginger nut”.

• A gingerbread house is a house that was made in the city called "Ginger"

• A gingerbread house is bread made in a gingerbread house.

​Who Invented the Gingerbread house?

The actual inventor is largely unknown as gingerbread constructions can be found as far back as ancient Greece and even further in China, but for the Europeans and North America, the practice of making gingerbread houses originates in Germany during the 1800’s. As gingerbread was already used to make different forms of art, German bakers took this to the next step, basing their creation off a very popular fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm, “Hansel and Gretel” where two children are abandoned in a forest before discovering an edible house made of bread and sugar. Bakers took descriptions of this house from the story and began approximating their own take on a gingerbread house.​

Multiple Choice

Who invented the Gingerbread house

• German bakers

• Ancient chinese bakers

• Egyptian bakers

​What is the purpose of a gingerbread house?

​The purpose of a gingerbread house is two fold-to provide an artistic medium and of course to eat. Gingerbread houses are commonly made nowadays to express creativity in a more fun and visually vibrant medium. With the world of sweets available, the cost of materials certainly isn’t high and the ceiling for creativity is nearly endless, creating a fun practice both for children and adults alike.  Plus, afterwards, you can eat your creation, something all children can greatly appreciate. 

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of Gingerbread house?

• Gingerbread houses are commonly made nowadays to express creativity in a more fun and visual way plus it can be eaten.

• Gingerbread houses are made only for show and not to eat.

• Gingerbread houses were made for the Soldiers

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Gingerbread houses can be traced back as far as Ancient Greece and Egypt

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Gingerbread was thought to bring bad luck.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Gingerbread houses are also made during Halloween and Valentines day.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False?

A doctor once wrote a prescription for gingerbread for the Swedish King to cure his depression

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False

The Queen of England banned (stopped the making of) Gingerbread houses.

• True

• False