Gingerbread in History
"And I had but one penny in the world
Thou should'st have it to buy gingerbread"
--William Shakespeare
Love's Labours Lost
There are few people of European decent who do not associate the scent of gingerbread with the winter holidays. It has been baked in Europe for centuries going back to the pre-Christian celebration of the Winter Solstice, when small cakes marked with symbols of the sun were part of the Yule celebrations.
Who does not remember standing at the kitchen table and watching as Grandmother or Great-grandmother mixed flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves into that wonderful-smelling, dark-brown dough? If we were very good (and Grandmother was very patient) she would roll out sheets of the wonderful stuff and let us help her cut out the shapes--animals, bells, trees, and, of course, gingerbread boys!
This is one of the universal elements of our culture. Even busy executives and heads of state take time before the holidays to make gingerbread with their families. Most of us associate the scent of cinnamon and cloves with the happiest times of our childhood.
Every country and every family has it's own variation of gingerbread. In some places it is a soft cake served with lemon sauce or whipped cream. In others it is in the form of small hard cookies which must be soaked in milk or tea (or perhaps even wine) before it will soften enough to eat. It may be dark or light, sweet or spicy, but whatever form it takes, it is always meant to be shared with those we love.
Gingerbread in History
Historically, gingerbread was made with breadcrumbs, honey and a variety of spices which could include anise, pepper, sandlewood, cinnamon, nutmeg. Often the bread used was stale and the spices had to be heavy in order to cover the taste.
In medieval times it was illegal for anyone but the members of the Baker's Guild (or in London, the Gingerbread Guild) to make gingerbread, except at Yuletide.
Each town or city had their own variety of gingerbread and the recipes were closely gaurded secrets which were passed down from Master Baker to apprentice as part of his training.
I have chosen gingerbread to represent the love and richness of the Yule season. I hope you will enjoy working on the crafts and sharing the recipes with those you love.