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Gingerbread Men
By J Gardener
Quick-picture the last gingerbread house you saw, in your mind. Now, without
thinking about it, what was the season when you saw it? Chances are, it was
Christmas-time. Few treats are as closely associated with Christmas as
gingerbread, and rarely do we see it, any other time of the year-which is
amazing, since your kids can't seem to get enough of it, when it's offered.
As well, we seem to have it embedded in our cultural consciousness that
gingerbread is somehow inherently English and Victorian. But the history of
gingerbread goes back much further than nineteenth century Europe.
The word ginger probably comes from an ancient Sanskrit
word-"sringavera"-which means "horn-shaped root". All ginger comes from a
rhizome we call ginger root, native to Asia, but grown extensively today in
Jamaica.
In ancient China, it was used as a medicine. In ancient Rome, it was used as
a spice-and was heavily taxed. Ginger first became popular in Europe during the
Middle Ages, probably brought in by returning Crusaders. Originally used as a
spicy delicacy, the Europeans soon discovered ginger's preservative properties,
and began treating their meat with it, as a way of preservation and a way of
disguising the meat's odor, as it aged. As ginger became more widely used, it
became more expensive, and was one of the most precious spices traded in
Medieval Europe.
By the fifteenth century, Europeans relied heavily on ginger and it was
imported in large quantities, bringing prices down a bit. Europeans also began
using ginger as a primary flavoring for cakes and breads. Most countries
developed unique gingerbread recipes, which they showcased at the many
gingerbread "fairs", popular throughout the continent.
Eventually, gingerbread-making became a highly respected profession in and of
itself, completely distinct from other bakery professions. In Germany, England,
and France, gingerbread bakers formed their own guilds, similar to unions, and
were recognized by their respective governments.
Gingerbread cakes and cookies became associated with many holidays, and were
baked into shapes relevant to special celebrations. The Germans became famous
for their shaped ginger creations. Nuremberg became the unofficial ginger
capital of Europe, where artisans from other crafts-wood-cutters, sculptors,
etc.-fashioned elaborate molds used by gingerbread bakers to make beautiful
delicacies.
When the Brothers Grimm published their collections of fairy tales, the
witch's house in "Hansel & Gretel' was described as a house of candies and
cakes, but German bakers began the tradition of crafting "Hexenhaeusle", or
witches' houses, a tradition which led to the gingerbread houses we know
today.
American gingerbread makes use of maple syrup and fewer spices in most
recipes, lending a heavy sweetness not found in most European brands.
Enjoy all the gingerbread you can, this season. But remember, it's a
wonderful confection that tastes just as good in July as in December. About the Author Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a personalized Santa call.
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