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In reply to the discussion: Gingerbread houses - why? [View all]Warpy
(111,233 posts)6. They're European
and either started in the kitchens of the aristocracy or in shop windows. They were picked up because grain and molasses based decorations were relatively cheap. They were also unlikely to have been as elaborate as the ones produced in ordinary kitchens now.
As to the Brothers Grimm, they were writing down folk tales that had existed for centuries, devised during a time when danger and death were constant companions and most kids didn't live past their 5th birthday. The gingerbread house with the cannibalistic witch in it was a nice thing for hungry children. The witch was defeated, you know, and only ate bratty kids who tried to eat her house.
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Must have been the rich folks - it's really a waste of good gingerbread if you ask me!
hedgehog
Dec 2015
#2
i should have said the rich folk back in the 17th century - sugar and ginger are
hedgehog
Dec 2015
#5
Heh! It's DU:GD where we tend to overthink things and make mountains out of molehills!!
madinmaryland
Dec 2015
#13
If they didn't want the witch to eat Hansel and Gretel, they shouldn't have made them so plump and
Warren DeMontague
Dec 2015
#12
Ah, well, far be it for me to misrepresent the historical accuracy of yon fairy tale.
Warren DeMontague
Dec 2015
#35
Oh, sure, you're an evil atheist -- no wonder you are in favor of baby eatin'!
Arugula Latte
Dec 2015
#40
I watched a really good documentary the other day on DW (English language German Channel)
CBGLuthier
Dec 2015
#16
The witch gave shelter and food to a couple of lost kids and look where it got her....
yellowcanine
Dec 2015
#21
Is ISIS planning on destroying our country through our spiced pastry miniature residences?!
Arugula Latte
Dec 2015
#41
baking process distracts kids from tv for a few secs (from the oven, as it were, lol)
librechik
Dec 2015
#39