General Discussion

enlightenment

(8,830 posts)

7. I agree - it most likely predates

Wed Dec 16, 2015, 05:20 PM

Dec 2015

the story.

People were making decorated "houses" from cakes and sugars centuries before the Brothers Grimm, and making molded ginger shapes earlier than the 16th century.

Much more likely that the Grimm's just used an existing motif and the popularity grew from the story . . . which does make you wonder what the heck people were thinking of the houses AFTER the story became popular.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

41 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Gingerbread houses - why? [View all] hedgehog Dec 2015 OP

Hmm...you may be overthinking this. MineralMan Dec 2015 #1

Must have been the rich folks - it's really a waste of good gingerbread if you ask me! hedgehog Dec 2015 #2

It's fun to do. And kids love doing it cali Dec 2015 #3

I'm Not Rich RobinA Dec 2015 #4

i should have said the rich folk back in the 17th century - sugar and ginger are hedgehog Dec 2015 #5

That I'll Buy RobinA Dec 2015 #19

I agree - it most likely predates enlightenment Dec 2015 #7

Heh! It's DU:GD where we tend to overthink things and make mountains out of molehills!! madinmaryland Dec 2015 #13

They're European Warpy Dec 2015 #6

Gingerbread houses are part of a tradition of edible table displays at feasts. haele Dec 2015 #8

Ruth Goodman over at the BBC (on You Tube) has a "farm" series going Warpy Dec 2015 #9

I like this example of an edible table display cyberswede Dec 2015 #10

A Choucroute Creche? smirkymonkey Dec 2015 #11

Nice ! Person 2713 Dec 2015 #14

I don't have a historical leg to stand on, Denzil_DC Dec 2015 #15

What's the second one made from? DashOneBravo Dec 2015 #34

Latticed bacon and kabanosy, by the look of it. n/t Denzil_DC Dec 2015 #36

Very clever! DawgHouse Dec 2015 #33

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

Hansel and Gretel were not plump. JVS Dec 2015 #28

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

I think that is a Grimm Brothers tale which were always grusome. Rex Dec 2015 #17

IIRC, the fairy tales were for adults, not children hedgehog Dec 2015 #18

ohferkrissakes Stinky The Clown Dec 2015 #20

The witch gave shelter and food to a couple of lost kids and look where it got her.... yellowcanine Dec 2015 #21

So the Gingerbread Man won't be homeless? KamaAina Dec 2015 #22

Some gingerbread houses are art! csziggy Dec 2015 #23

Why? Because they are FUN! eom MohRokTah Dec 2015 #24

I must confess - cookies, rolls, breads and fruitcake I can do hedgehog Dec 2015 #25

Ding ding ding! pnwmom Dec 2015 #31

supposedly DonCoquixote Dec 2015 #26

Oh dear. cwydro Dec 2015 #27

more careless cultural appropriation from Germany MisterP Dec 2015 #29

Because cool. And edible. That's why. n/t lumberjack_jeff Dec 2015 #30

Gingerbread houses. MORE OF A THREAT THAN CLIMATE CHANGE Katashi_itto Dec 2015 #32

Is ISIS planning on destroying our country through our spiced pastry miniature residences?! Arugula Latte Dec 2015 #41

Gah! Texasgal Dec 2015 #37

But it's more fun to talk to people and get all the opinions, hedgehog Dec 2015 #38

baking process distracts kids from tv for a few secs (from the oven, as it were, lol) librechik Dec 2015 #39