Page 28 - December2023

Gingerbread: A Tale

of Spices, Saints, and

Festive Celebrations

Explore the journey of gingerbread which came from the Middle East, was

from its ancient ceremonial origins to initially very expensive and considered
its cherished role in modern Christmas a luxury, so gingerbread was often
celebrations. associated with special occasions.

Ancient civilizations, such as the In medieval times, it was not uncommon

Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, were for specific foods to be associated
known to bake breads and cakes using with certain saints’ days. Saint Honoré
various spices and sweeteners like (Honoratus) of Amiens is one of them.

honey. While these would not have been Particularly celebrated in France, Saint
gingerbread in the modern sense, they Honoré is the patron saint of bakers and

may have been precursors to later spiced pastry chefs. Legend has it that after his
bread traditions. death, the bread in a bakery near his
grave miraculously refused to bake as a

Gingerbread was made in Europe for the sign of respect to the saint.
first time during the 11th century. Monks

were baking gingerbread for religious It is interesting to note that Saint
ceremonies, and it was believed to have Nicholas of Myra, known more popularly
medicinal properties. The ginger spice, as the inspiration for Santa Claus, Saint

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