Gingerbread House Day 2023: Date, History and Activities

Gingerbread House Day 2023: Dec. 12 is Gingerbread House Day! We can all agree that the best part of creating a gingerbread house is devouring the delicious treat once we’re done, regardless of whether you’re an expert cookie builder or your baked house collapses as soon as you glue the third wall with icing!

Gingerbread House Day’s History

The aroma of freshly baked gingerbread is unmistakably festive. But before the ornamental cookie took the lead in popularity on the dessert table during the holidays, making gingerbread was recognized as a distinct profession. With the exception of Christmas and Easter, when anyone could bake gingerbread, only skilled bakers were permitted to make it in the 17th century.

In Europe, sweets and gingerbread in the shapes of hearts, stars, soldiers, infants, trumpets, swords, pistols, and animals were sold in specialty stores and at seasonal markets. On Sundays, gingerbread was specifically sold outside of churches. For specific religious occasions like Christmas and Lent, religious gingerbread reliefs were bought. Decorated gingerbread was purchased especially for weddings and given as gifts to both adults and children.

In Europe, gingerbread was also regarded as popular art. Molds depicted new rulers, their spouses, children, and parties, often depicting real events. The Ethnographic Museum in Toruń, Poland, and the Bread Museum in Ulm, Germany, both house sizable collections of mold. Some food historians claim that gingerbread house making dates back to Germany in the early 1800s. The popular Grimm fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” inspired the creation of the first gingerbread houses. German bakers produced gingerbread houses with fairy tale figures after the publication of this tale. German immigrants brought them to America, where they gained popularity around Christmas.

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Activities for Gingerbread House Day

Make your own gingerbread house.

Making gingerbread dough is actually quite simple. Although we’re willing to wager that practically everything else is already in your pantry, you might need to run to the store for the molasses (another essential ingredient) and spices (ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves). The most challenging aspect involves accurately measuring the walls and roof of your gingerbread house before baking it. Why not make some gingerbread men and women to go with it if you have extra dough?

Throw a competition for gingerbread houses.

Make or purchase an abundance of gingerbread houses, white icing, and multicolored candies. Bring your friends over, turn on some festive music, and compete to create the most exquisitely decorated gingerbread house!

Suggested beverage: gingerbread latte

These drinks appear on coffee shop menus across the nation come December. It is, however, simple to duplicate if you are unable to locate one in your area. Obtain gingerbread syrup from stores or prepare it at home by heating water, sugar, ground ginger, cinnamon, and allspice until it thickens and reduces. Pour some espresso into the syrup and then pour some warm milk on top. With that, you have instant holiday cheer in a cup—no barista needed.

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Reasons Why this Day Rocks

Its roots are in fairy tales.

Although gingerbread has been consumed for centuries in Europe, the Brothers Grimm are credited with popularizing gingerbread houses. Remember that one from the 19th century? It was Hansel and Gretel. The story revolves around a witch who seduces a brother and sister into being held captive in her gingerbread and candy-filled home, with the intention of making them obese for consumption (spoiler alert: they manage to get out!). Because of the story’s immense popularity in Germany, people began to bake gingerbread houses for the holidays.

It awakens your inner child.

Nothing can bring back your childhood like a good old-fashioned arts and crafts project. This is especially true if the materials you’re using to craft are a) edible and b) extremely sweet. Add to that the innocent delight that envelops people of all ages during the holidays? That right there is the trifecta.

Moreover, ginger is healthy, right?

Naturally, ginger is the primary flavor of gingerbread. It’s what gives gingerbread its subtle spicy kick and hearty holiday flavor. In addition, ginger has a wide range of health advantages; it can reduce inflammation, ease nausea and indigestion, and even potentially lower cholesterol, reduce heart disease risk factors, and possibly even fight cancer. Yes, eating it by itself is probably preferable, but it’s the holidays! We’ll keep it a secret.

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GINGERBREAD HOUSE DAY DATES