NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY

NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY June 5

NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY | June 5

'Tis the season to celebrate National Gingerbread Day. While that may sound strange for June 5, gingerbread lovers across the country celebrate by sampling their favorite recipes and gingerbread treats. Whether in the form of bread, cakes, bars, biscuits, or cookies, gingerbread is delicious any time of year.

#NationalGingerbreadDay

Gingerbread is a sweet food that typically uses honey or molasses rather than just sugar and is flavored with ginger. The term "gingerbread" originally referred to preserved ginger, later referring to a confection made up of honey and spices. Gingerbread foods range from a soft, moist loaf cake to something closer to a ginger biscuit.

It is believed that gingerbread was first brought to Europe in 992 by an Armenian monk. He lived there for seven years teaching gingerbread cooking to the French priests and Christians until his death in 999.

Sources indicate that in 1444, Swedish nuns were baking gingerbread to ease indigestion.

In the 17th century, gingerbread biscuits were sold in monasteries, pharmacies and town square farmers markets. During the 18th century, gingerbread became widely available.

5 Gingerly Facts

  1. Ginger can be traced back to the 11th century when monks experimented with spices, where ginger was used to make a molded cake.

  2. Gingerbread during Medieval was served as a sweetmeat at the end of a meal to help with digestion of food.

  3. It is said Queen Elizabeth I (September 7, 1533 - March 24, 1603) served her guests miniature gingerbread versions of themselves.

  4. Gingerbread houses seemed to have originated in Germany during the late 16th century and became popular in Europe during the 17th century.

  5. Cutout gingerbread was was used to teach children the alphabet during the 17th century.

GINGERBREAD DAY GOALS

Break out your favorite gingerbread recipe and make a batch of gingerbread cookies. If you're visiting your local bakery, grab a dozen of gingerbread cookies, then gift them to the local police or fire department. You could even consider grabbing a variety of gingerbread treats to mix things up a bit. Share your gingerbread creations on social media using the hashtag  #NationalGingerbreadDay.

NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this baked-good holiday. In the meantime, don't forget these other gingerbread holidays: