Gingerbread Houses

Exactly when the custom of building gingerbread houses at Christmastime began is not clear, but we do know it was after the Grimm brothers retold the tale of Hansel and Gretel in the nineteenth century. Building and displaying a small gingerbread house is a traditional part of Christmas for many families in Sweden. It can be a project for the whole family; the children not only love to help assemble the house but also to tear it apart after Christmas. A gingerbread house is also a typical part of the pastry shop’s seasonal decor. These showpieces are usually large, elaborate creations that light up at night and are displayed in the shop windows. Smaller, simpler houses are made for sale, such as the Santa’s Gingerbread Chalet or a smaller version of the traditional gingerbread house. If the houses are made in an assembly-line fashion, they can be a profitable line for your business, and they fill the shop with old-fashioned Christmas spirit.