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Ginger cookies are a type of cookie that uses ginger as the main ingredient. The other ingredients are molasses, honey, and sugar, which makes this treat very sweet. However, the distinctive ginger flavor is exactly what has brought this cookie wide popularity.

Why ‘gingerbread’?

The term ‘gingerbread’ is borrowed from the old French term gingimbrat / gingembras (which means ‘preserved ginger’), which was borrowed from the medieval Latin term ‘gingiber’. It is ‘ginger, which has medicinal uses for the preparation of certain medicines.

History of Origin

Early on in Europe and the United States, cute gingerbread, often in the shape of little men, appears among the New Year’s treats. We know many different recipes for gingerbread cookies and share little tricks for making them, but few people know that the history of this little culinary wonder began about a thousand years ago…

There is a wealth of information about the supposed origins of gingerbread, and several historical facts have been found.

The earliest document connected the use of ginger with Greek and Egyptian ceremonies and medicine. The history of Europe tells us that the Crusaders of the 10th and 11th centuries, who came from the Middle East, first introduced gingerbread to the locals. 

Specifically, it is said that in 992, the Armenian monk Gregory Makar brought gingerbread to Europe. Upon his arrival, he resided in France, where he taught French Christians how to bake gingerbread. 

In Sweden, German immigrants are thought to have brought gingerbread with them in the 13th century. Records from 1444 show that gingerbread was made by Swedish nuns to relieve indigestion.

Gingerbread was first documented in England in 1390, when the first recipe was recorded: bread crumbs were soaked in a mixture of honey and ginger. According to this legend, the recipe was delivered by crusaders returning from another campaign. But scones with lots of spices and honey were already being made in ancient Egypt. They were popular because of their sweet taste and ability to retain their flavor for a long time.

Records of the gingerbread trade date back to the 17th century, when they were sold in monasteries, in town squares and in pharmacies as a medicine.

There is another famous legend, according to which gingerbread was invented quite by accident. One day in a monastery, in the middle of Christmas preparations, a monk who was preparing a treat accidentally put spices in the batter. Everyone in the area liked the cookies so much that it became a tradition to make gingerbread cakes every following Christmas.

Over time, around the 18th century, ginger and other spices became more readily available, and this allowed gingerbread to spread as more and more people could afford to make it not only for medicinal purposes, but also simply as a dessert.

Initially, gingerbread was used medicinally to treat problems such as indigestion. Later, its widespread popularity gave it the title of a “favorite dessert for Christmas.”

Variations in different countries

Gingerbread man-shaped cookie molds were made to entertain Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I. And by the early seventeenth century, the popularity of the delicious gingerbread spread throughout England, and you could see them at every fair.

But fame had a downside – gingerbread men were used as voodoo dolls, were used in various superstitious ceremonies, and at one time in Europe it was even forbidden to sell or eat them.

Fortunately, all the bad things that were associated with gingerbread have only increased their popularity, and now it is one of the symbols of the New Year and Christmas.

Gingerbread has many forms and variations in different countries, and one may find that what is called gingerbread in a certain country may be gingerbread; while in another, the same may refer to cookie.

However, let’s focus on the variations of gingerbread cookies:

1. Romania – gingerbread gingerbread is coated with a sugar glaze on top;
2. England – gingerbread usually takes the form of “gingerbread men” – a common shape for gingerbread. In addition, gingerbread is a favorite treat at Christmas;
3. Germany – gingerbread gingerbread is additionally decorated with icing and sweets;
4. Bulgaria – gingerbread is large, probably as big as the palm of one’s hand. In addition to ginger, cinnamon, honey and dried cloves are additionally used, and the cookies themselves are covered with a layer of chocolate.

Interesting facts about gingerbread cookies

• Gingerbread Cookie Packaging
• November 21 is National Gingerbread Day in America;
• A popular tradition among Swedes is that gingerbread can be used to make wishes. The gingerbread is placed in one hand and a wish is made. Then it is necessary to crush the gingerbread with the other hand, and if the gingerbread is divided into 3 parts, then the wish is sure to come true;
• Also, many companies have their own tradition of bringing treats to colleagues for Christmas, such a tradition exists at CSG Renovation https://csgrenovation.ca/our-services/basement-renovations/.

One of the popular kings of Sweden – King Hans suffered from depression, and his doctor prescribed him a gingerbread as a medicine. Therefore, gingerbread is not only very tasty, but also very healthy.