Just one day before the big day….the day when presents are opened and food is consumed and family has joy and humor around the communal table.

Speaking of this time of year and a fan favorite during the festivities….gingerbread.

As yummy as this may be what do you know of the delectable tasting yummy?

Come On!  You guys know I cannot let something go by without throwing some history in your direction….and so it is with gingerbread.

Gingerbread may be considered an indulgent treat if you’re only considering the calorie content. But it’s Christmas, and indulging in a treat or two can be a fun and healthy part of life – especially when this classic biscuit includes many nutrients that may benefit your health.

Gingerbread is believed to have originated in its earliest form in 2400BC ancient Greece. Surprisingly, this recipe didn’t contain any ginger at all – and was actually a honey cake.

But the version of gingerbread we know and love today didn’t start to take shape until the 11th century when Crusaders returned from their travels in the Middle East with ginger in hand. Ginger was first cultivated in ancient China, where it was commonly used as a medical treatment.

This led to the cooks of nobility in Europe to begin experimenting with ginger in their cooking. As ginger and other spices became more affordable to the masses in the mid-1600s, gingerbread caught on.

The original term “gingerbread” referred to preserved ginger, which was developed into a confection made with honey and spices. Later, the term was used to refer to the French confectionery pain d’epices (spice bread) and the German Lebkuchen or Pfefferkuchen (pepperbread or pepper cake).

But the gingerbread house, which is now a staple of modern Christmas traditions, is believed to have been invented in 18th-century Germany, thanks to the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm. The practice then spread to England at some point during the 19th century.

Queen Elizabeth I is credited with creating the first gingerbread men. She would delight visiting dignitaries with gingerbread figures baked into their likeness.

Despite its ancient origins, baking gingerbread during the holiday season remains a celebrated tradition in many parts of the world.

Gingerbread is a delicious yet ancient staple of the holiday season — and its spices may have some surprising health benefits

See that did not hurt much now did it?

This is it for me today….

In case you are not around for Christmas let me take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

I will see you guys when life calms down again.

“lego ergo scribo”

chuq