Gingerbread house-gingerbread cookies

Gingerbread cookies are traditional treat in Holiday season, especially at Christmas.
One of my dear childhood memories is linked to these fairy tale treats.
As little kids, my brother and I, we were waiting impatiently for our parents to come home from some artisan fair and bring us gingerbread cookies.
red gingerbread hearts
If in some part of the world they are not known, I'll tell you what they are:
Gingerbread cookies are cute, colorful pastry made with honey and spices, covered with a variety of candies and icing.
gingerbread Christmas treeGingerbread cookies
They have all kind of shapes; the most well known is the gingerbread man and the gingerbread house but there all kind of seasonal themes like Christmas trees , hearts, bunnies, edible gingerbread necklaces, Santa boots.
gingerbread bunnies
Here by us, they can be bought at artisan fairs on special occasions.
When homemade, it is a great joy for kids to cut out the figures. Though I don't like them homemade; because of my childhood memories, they must be a market gifts.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Baking the sweetly decorated houses covered with a variety of candies and icing, are popular Christmas decorations and a
gingerbread house-lebkuchen
very old tradition.
It is believed gingerbread was first baked in Europe at the end of the 11th century, when returning crusaders brought the bread and the spicy root back from the Middle East.
Ginger had properties that helped preserve the bread, it wasn't merely flavorful.
According to some researchers, the first gingerbread houses may have appeared as a result of the popular Grimm's fairy tales.
gingerbread necklaces

According to other food historians, in the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale, the brothers Grimm were writing about something that already existed.
In our modern wold there are amazing Gingerbread house building competitions taking place. For those of you who live in Asheville (NC) or nearby, there is an amazing display of gingerbread houses at Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Asheville on November 18, 2009-January 3, 2010 on Mondays-Thursdays.

16 comments:

Claudia said...

I love gingerbread cookies - there is nothing like that wonderful flavor! Happy Pink Saturday!

LV said...

I always loved it when my mother baked us a ginger bread man. I still enjoy them today when someone else bakes them.

Claudia said...

These are darling ginger bread!

Certainly takes me back.

If you get a moment I would love for you to stop by and read my Christmas Short Story post.

TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥ enjoy the season!

Carole said...

The cookies are so festive!

Happy Pink Saturday.

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed learning about gingerbread, and seeing all of the pictures of different forms.

Betty said...

I love the smell of gingerbread baking so I always make some every year. Happy Pink Saturday!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Maia, I loved seeing these gingerbread cookies. They look delicious and are all so pretty! If I ever make it to the Grove Park Inn at Christmas, I will be sure and look for their display.

Happy Pink Saturday!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Char said...

Gingerbread is so good no matter where or when it's baked. Your cookies are as perfect as can be, I can taste them, Happy Pink Saturday, Char

Janie said...

I can almost smell those gingerbread cookies. Delicious!
And I love admiring the houses, too.

CC said...

I have always loved gingerbread and nobody could make it like my mother. It was wonderful. I love the way all your cookies are decorated so sweetly..Happy Pinks and have a wonderful weekend.

Fandango Moon said...

Yummy and Pretty!!!
Thanks for sharing and Happy Pink Saturday!!!

GreensboroDailyPhoto said...

These beautiful cookies have me wanting to get out and make something. They look sooooooooo festive and you have captured them superbly. I didn't know about pink saturday!

Mary Bergfeld said...

I really loved your post today. I hope you are having a great Pink Saturday and are looking forward to the holidays ahead.

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

I loved reading about your Christmas Memory for Pink Saturday! And the story of Gingerbread is fascinating!!! Thanks so much for sharing! Coralie

catcent said...

Nous aussi les pains d'épices sortent pour tout le temps des fêtes bye maia

Nanna said...

fantastic post, love all the cookies & a little history to boot LOL

Helen

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