Nothing smells better than that spicy, just-out-of-the-oven scent of freshly baked gingerbread. Whether it's in loaf, cookie, or cake form, it's one of those sentimental smells and quintessential flavors that help to create a classic holiday atmosphere. One whiff of gingerbread and it's right back to Christmas Eve at a grandparent's house, baking cookies with family, and going holiday shopping with friends. It's the first snowfall, decorating the Christmas tree, and the excitement of Christmas morning all in one. Another quintessential part of the holidays for some is building a gingerbread house, something many people consider to be a tried and true tradition of the season.

While they're easy to create from kits nowadays and with patterns that are printable online, it's rare that anyone ever knows exactly where the tradition of gingerbread houses came from. It's true that they've now become our own traditions and are something seen throughout the world, but few people know about the gingerbread house's origins or where it got its start, or how.

Where Did They Come From And Why Were They Created?

Gingerbead has been the subject of many a devoted fan's attention and not just around the holidays. In fact, gingerbead dates all the way back to the ancient Greeks and even the Egyptians, who had it in a form that was somewhat different from what we consider to be gingerbread today. According to The Spruce Eats, gingerbread became widely accepted as soon as the ginger spice was widely affordable, leading many people to welcome it into their pantries with open arms. This, of course, is how gingerbread made its way around the world and eventually ended up becoming synonymous with the holidays and, eventually, with gingerbread houses.

Now that we know where the ginger in gingerbread came from, it's time to explore a bit further and find out where using it in edible art forms came from. In Eastern Europe, it was traditional to create edible depictions in the form of cookies detailing current events, religious symbols, and even in tribute to royalty. It was then decorated with icing or, if one was very well-off, a form of edible gold. The person responsible for the first gingerbread man, however, was none other than Queen Elizabeth I. It was her idea to surprise dignitaries with a cookie that looked just like themselves, complete with a human form and realistic decoration and, thus, the first gingerbread man (and, eventually, woman) was created. It soon became a popular gift as well as something that was exchanged in intimate relationships and soon enough, gingerbread was taking off as one of the most well-received cookies in the world.

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Now, as for gingerbead houses. The edible art was first seen in Germany and even today, it's considered an actual form of art in Nuremberg, Pulsnitz, and Ulm. Anyone who's familiar with Grimm's Fairy Tales is likely to connect the dots here: After the publication of Hansel and Gretel, gingerbread houses began to increase in popularity, likely due to the fact that they were eerily similar to the house described in the children's tale. While it's not likely that anyone is creating a gingerbread house featuring an old witch and two children anytime soon, the magic and enchantment of a candy and cookie house is something that people simply fell in love with. This tradition was then brought to North America by the first German settlers.

How To Make Your Own Easily

Making a gingerbread house is definitely a labor of love and patience, that shouldn't be underestimated. However, it's also therapeutic and a great way to have creative freedom with something that's not on paper. These days, gingerbread kits are a great way to get your foot in the door if you're looking to save time. They can be spruced up by getting some extra candies (the ones that come with the kit aren't usually that good) and by adding a bit of food dye to the icing that comes with it... some edible glitter never hurts, either.

Alternatively, there are many patterns that can be found online, as well. These can be printed out and laid over pieces of rolled gingerbread dough in order to be baked into the correct sections. When they're thoroughly baked through, they can be attached with royal icing or, if you're careful, some melted sugar. Patterns vary in difficulty and time needed, so starting with something simple is always best. For a very, very simplistic gingerbread house, a chalet-style is the best way to go, since it only requires six pieces - plus a base - of gingerbread in total.

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