Matthew Weimer’s fourth grade class assembles and decorates a gingerbread nativity in honor of National Gingerbread House Day, Dec. 12.

Decorating gingerbread houses during the holiday season is a reasonably common Christmas activity in today’s day and age. However, gingerbread houses were not popular until after 1812 when the Brothers Grimm wrote their famous fairy tale, ‘Hansel and Gretel’.

Gingerbread was introduced to Europe in 992 AD by an Armenian Monk. However, the concept of a gingerbread house was not popular until after the Brothers Grimm published their children’s book. All across the world, people decorate these edible structures during the holidays.

Did you know, that some English women even believed that if they ate a gingerbread man they would have better luck in finding a husband?

Fun facts about gingerbread houses:

The word ‘gingerbread’ is derived from the French word ‘gingebras’ which is preserved ginger.

Queen Elizabeth invented gingerbread men as gifts to her visitors that resembled them.

The largest gingerbread house made was in Bryan, Texas, covering an astonishing 2,520 square feet.

The ‘Gingerbread Capital of the World’ is in Nuremberg, Germany.

Mobile Cuisine is the accredited source of information for this post. Check out their website for more information.

For more on Christmas fun at Fresno Christian visit, Countdown to Christmas: Local fun stuff to do by Avery Jones.

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