By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
The Gingerbread House. Nothing says ‘The Holidays’ more than these fanciful constructions of sturdy cookie walls and a roof, elaborately embellished with icing and sparkling candies. Constructing and displaying these edible masterpieces is a tradition that so many families share, and one that, thankfully, will also be returning to the Springfield Museums this year, offering visitors some much-needed cheer in a very unusual holiday season.
A confection’s chronology
There’s no denying the gingerbread house has, somehow, become a huge holiday tradition, especially in America. From local bake shops to hotel lobbies to Disney’s sprawling parks, you’ll find creative interpretations of these sweet masterpieces almost everywhere this time of year.
In fact, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest gingerbread house ever built was constructed in 2013 at the Traditions Golf Club in Bryant, Texas. At approximately 2,520 square feet and 21-feet high, the massive cookie required a wooden framework and a building permit, just like a regular house.
But how did a humble cookie house become such a symbol of the holidays? According to Tori Avery, who writes for The History Kitchen on the PBS website, the roots trace back to the elaborate yule celebrations of early European royalty. She notes that the first documentation of gingerbread houses being used as part of the holiday season occurred in 16th century Germany. These beautiful structures were often accented with gold leaf, and were usually created for nobility.
Gingerbread itself – the cookie type used for houses and “men” and the soft, loaf-type, came to America with English colonists. Avery noted that the first American cookbook, “American Cookery” by Amelia Simmons, has recipes for three types of gingerbread including the soft variety baked in loaves.
From cookie to construction
The concept of a gingerbread house however, didn’t arrive in America until later. That holiday tradition came over with early German immigrants, according to a Dec. 17, 2017 article by Kat Eschner in the
online version of Smithsonian magazine. The German tradition of constructing a gingerbread house – or lebkuchenhaus – however, doesn’t seem to originally have had a holiday connection at all, but instead seems linked somehow to Germany’s 13th century Great Famine, which inspired tales of lost children being lured by ogres and witches living in candy-constructed homes. The Brothers Grimm’s 1812 retelling of “Hansel & Gretel”– who escaped being roasted and eaten by a witch in a gingerbread house by turning the tables on the old hag – is the most well-known of these.
A tradition evolves
The connection between a competition judging these elaborate, edible constructions and the Christmas holiday is also a bit murky. The Smithsonian article suggests the idea of today’s holiday gingerbread construction competitions might actually trace its roots back to the “Gingerbread Fairs” that were popular in England and France at the holidays during the Middle Ages.
Whatever the origin, creating a gingerbread house is certainly a big deal today, spawning DIY kits in craft shops and local grocery stores, scores of Pinterest pages, T.V. specials, myriad local gingerbread house shows and even an annual national competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C.
The Museums join in
A decade ago, the Springfield Museums joined in this holiday tradition, reviving the idea of a local gingerbread house competition for professional and home bakers.
“In 2010 the Springfield Museums responded to a regional museum call for edible art,” Karen Fisk, director of marketing and communications for the Museums told Prime. “The Museums revitalized a long-ago Gingerbread display, adding the element of a contest, a theme for the houses, and remarkable murals and holiday decorations surrounding the creations for an immersive experience.
“The first theme was Sugar & Spice: The Land of Gingerbread,” Fisk continued. “Contestants were invited to explore Springfield: The City of Homes. Replicas of historic homes in gingerbread really impressed visitors and a holiday tradition was born. Each year more people enter the contest, which results in a remarkable experience for all – visitors, staff, and bakers.”
In 2020 - it’s a “Wonderland”
Despite the uncertainties brought on by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Springfield Museums is continuing its gingerbread house competition tradition in 2020. Fisk said there will be some modifications to this year’s viewing, but the Museum is excited to offer visitors a bit of holiday normalcy during these unusual times.
This year’s gingerbread competition, with the theme “Gingerbread in Wonderland” will take place in the museum’s galleries from Nov. 27 through Jan. 3, 2021. As always, visitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite gingerbread houses. Visitor’s Choice first, second and third prizes will be awarded at the close of the show.
“There will be 25 gingerbread creations [this year]—many of which are inspired by Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ and many with a traditional holiday theme—constructed by local bakeries, schools, adults and kids,” Fisk shared, adding that though there were a few less entries than in years past, the creations were, as always, remarkable. “In addition to receiving ever more complicated and clever structures each year, we have also seen the number of children entering their gingerbread creations rise.”
Come vote for your favorites
Viewing of “Gingerbread in Wonderland” will be included in the price of museum admission. “As in all of our galleries, the space is limited to 25 percent of its regular capacity.
Social distancing and masks are required,” Fisk said, adding that purchasing museum tickets ahead of time online is strongly recommended.
For museum hours, to purchase museum tickets, and for all COVID-19 policies, visit https://springfieldmuseums.org/
