Gingerbread Tradition

Warm smells of cinnamon, ginger, cardamon, and all-spice waft from the cozy home, encrusted with candy and icicles made of sugar. A flat gingerbread man stands stiffly outside sporting gumdrop buttons and an icing smile.

Forms of gingerbread have been associated with holiday making in the Eastern and Western world from at least 999 AD. Popular at fairs and served to royalty, gingerbread and its relatives were associated with wealth and the commemoration of special occasions.

Queen Elizabeth I served baked figurines to visiting personages. Dating even earlier, cakes made of ginger and honey have been found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. It is unclear whether the German tradition of candy-covered gingerbread houses were inspired by or inspired the Brother’s Grimm fairy-tale of Hansel and Gretel – either way the two are forever linked. Ginger was first domesticated in Southeast Asia (today’s China), likely by the Austronesian peoples, who later brought it with them (as a “canoe-plant”) in their expansion into the Indo-Pacific and as far as Hawaii.

The earliest written record of the plant is from Confucius, who purportedly ate it with every meal. It was one of the first spices to be transported out of Asia with the spice trade and was quickly adopted by the Greeks and Romans. Its use and association with breads and cookies are expansive, nearly every Western (and Eastern) country has a specific ginger treat associated with holiday making.

3rd Annual

CHRISTMASTOWN Gingerbread Challenge

ENTRIES DUE BY: December 1

SHELTON, WA $500+ IN PRIZES

Bring gingerbread creations to the Shelton Mason County County Chamber, 215 W Railroad Avenue, DEC 1. Gingerbread entries will be on display in shop windows in Shelton.

The entry’s major components (such as sides, roof) must be constructed of gingerbread. The rest of the display can be decorated with any edible material. All visible components must be edible. Entries will be judged based on the following criteria: Overall Appearance, Originality and Creativity, Difficulty and Precision, Use of Materials.

Visit ChristmastownWA.org for full details & entry form.

SPONSORED BY KEALY ELECTRIC AND BOWERS DENTAL GROUP

THANK YOU.

Santa Claus LettersSanta

Santa Claus visits may be a little different still this year, but no fear, he’s working on your Christmas wishes – and Santa & Mrs. Claus love to get letters.

In 2020 Christmastown volunteers sent over 500 cards from Christmastown to children throughout Washington. Again the volunteers at Christmastown are helping Santa with letters. Visit www.christmastownwa.org to share a little information about your child (and the address!) and he or she will receive a personal card from Christmastown!

This year we will also have a mailbox at Christmastown events on Cota St in Shelton. Bring by your notes, but be sure to include return address on the envelop as all Santa has is your chimney addresses.