The gingerbread house is a traditional decoration for the holiday table in Western Europe. This original and tasty dessert is becoming popular in Russia as well.
The gingerbread house is a traditional decoration for the holiday table in Western Europe. This original and tasty dessert is becoming popular in Russia as well.
It is believed that Christmas gingerbread houses came into fashion in 19th-century Germany after the publication in 1812 of the fairy-tale “Hansel and Gretel” by the Grimm Brothers, who described in it a gingerbread house that served as a dwelling for an evil witch.
These houses were the hottest thing around at Christmas fairs right after the publication of "Hansel and Gretel." Influenced by the fairy-tale, many families likewise took a fancy for baking gingerbread houses, competing for who could create the most original one.
Feeding their popularity was the gingerbread dough recipe developed in the Late Middle Ages, thanks to which the baked fares could remain fresh for a long time. You could take your time admiring a house and savor every bit of it after taking it in with your eyes.
A gingerbread workshop in action.
A gingerbread house.
The "gingerbread man" is another Christmas culinary symbol, on par with the gingerbread house.
An iced or chocolate face is painted on a gingerbread man. Children are particularly fond of painting buttons.
