Page 17 - Demo

WHY DO WE LOVE GINGERBREAD?Building and decorating a gingerbread house with cookies, icing, and candy is a rewarding, creative experience. I have such fun decorating gingerbread houses with my three kiddos each year! We usually keep it pretty basic, as my young kids tend to start eating all the decorations if we try to add too much complexity. But it%u2019s a fun and simple way to build something together during the holidays.Gingerbread is a perfect reminder of the warmth and joy that Christmas brings. Just the scent of gingerbread coming out of the oven is enough to make you feel as if you are being hugged by your home. One legend tells us that during the fifteenth century, unmarried girls would use gingerbread to find their future spouse. They would bake man-shaped cookies that were displayed at street fairs, with the superstition that the man who ate the cookie would fall in love with the woman who had baked it. During the seventeenth century, gingerbread was shaped into the image of religious icons, and the act of baking it was considered a sacred practice. Restrictions concerning the baking of gingerbread were enforced by the authorities. Only guild bakers were permitted to bake gingerbread during the calendar year. The edict was waived during Christmas and Easter, when everyone was allowed to bake the tasty, aromatic concoction.Whether you%u2019re married or single this Christmas season, whether you%u2019re trying to keep little hands out of the frosting or crafting elaborate gingerbread castles, each time you catch the scent of gingerbread, remember the warmth that fills our kitchens and hearts during this special time of year.15