When I grew up, we didn’t have a tradition involving gingerbread baking. This post however is about all things gingerbread.
Did you miss the post about how we decorate for Christmas? Check it out!
About having different traditions
My mum, the best Christmas decorator, also happens to be a great baker. And every year for Christmas she made sure we had more than enough different Christmas cookies, cakes and pastries. In the part of the country where I grew up, gingerbread cookies isn’t as much of a tradition as it seems to be in the rest of the country though. We have our white “julemenn” cookies that we decorate instead of the gingerbread cookies.
My wife on the other hand had mainly had a tradition of gingerbread cookies for Christmas. I think she was taken by surprise of all the baked goods my family prepared for Christmas. And so when starting traditions of our own we had to give the gingerbread cookies a significant role among the other things we make for Christmas.
Cookies, decorations and building blocks
This year we made the first batch of cookies in November. It’s a bit early for us. However we wanted to participate in a community project where we made a building block for a bigger ginger bread piece, and thus had some leftover dough to make cookies with.
Big Brother got some cookie cutters for making 3D cookies in his calendar this year, and so we had to test them out. Baby Boy has also gotten really into the whole baking thing, not to mention eating gingerbread cookies all the time. We actually had to hide the cookie jar for him to accept any other food. And so we’ve made a lot of ginger bread cookies this year.
We also always make some bigger cookies to hang in our kitchen window. Traditionally it’s been hearts. Subtly decorated with white icing. Suitable for our decorating style. This year however it’s different. We have one heart, accompanied by a Santa and a robot monster. What can I say, the kids are all right.
Finally the house
The cherry on top for Big Brother is putting together and decorating the gingerbread house. We don’t focus on making the most fancy house (or castle, building, hospital or church), we focus on charm. And the entire family having a good time. As the boys grow older, maybe we’ll step up our game, but for now it’s not going to be a good time for any of us to try and make anything complicated.
I do remember we put together and decorated a gingerbread house as a child. We made this landscape of cotton around it. With a small mirror acting as a ice rink. We had small figurines placed around it and I remember thinking it had to be the most beautiful gingerbread house in the world.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this first week of Blogmas! I’ve noticed there’s several new readers among us, and I hope you’ll consider subscribing so you don’t miss out posts to come. Or maybe check out my Instagram? I would highly appreciate it! Stay safe and I’ll see you tomorrow for this seasons first time skiing!
