Christmas gift exchanges are wonderful ways to spend time together during the holidays. Gift exchanges are a great way of bringing family members together.
The challenge comes with setting the theme or focus for your Christmas gift exchange. If you do the same thing each year, people will get bored and stop participating. Without changing things up every few years, the gift exchanges become gift card exchanges, which are not so fun, well in my opinion anyway. So one person must come up with the theme idea.
At my wife’s big family get together last year, we all brought a one-pound gift. The gifts were distributed. Then the story featuring Mr. Right who left the room and went right to bed (well, you get the idea) was read to the exchange of the gifts. People were laughing and joking as people attempted to remember which was their right and left hand as the gifts were passed in the circle. It worked wonderfully. It was really fun to see the creativity in the gift giving. One person gave a pound of pennies, while another gave a one pound piece of money. Another gave a bag of chips and salsa. Talk about variety. And not to forget, my special gift, which was one pound of spam. Of course, everyone secretly wished they had received that gift.
So to help your Christmas season be a season of joy and not stress, I have gathered some Christmas exchange ideas for you.
1. The One pound gift is a real favorite of mine
2. $3 funny card (you could set any dollar amount)
3. $5 dollar store or goodwill purchase
One year a person found a heated toilet seat in this themed exchange.
4. Dinner in a dish where the person brings a recipe with the majority of the ingredients to make the dish
5. Ornament exchange with a dollar amount
6. Entertainment theme – books, cds, movies
7. Set a letter of the alphabet that the gift has to start with (We have not done this exchange yet but I think it would be very fun.)
8. Charity exchange where each person would put in his or her favorite charity with the contact information. The person who drew the slip of paper would be expected to give a donation to the charity. Another version of the charity idea is something my wife’s family as done. Her sister died young due to colon cancer. The family started a scholarship fund in her sister’s memory. There is an envelope under the tree each year for family member to add to the scholarship fund.
So whether you decide to go with a more meaningful gift or more to the wacky and fun, have fun with your Christmas exchange this year. The real importance is to have fun with those that are important to you.
The best way to host a teenage party that stays under control is to provide an activity that completely involves and engages the kids. That way, they’re not interested in doing the things you don’t want them doing. Of course, they need to socialize, but within the parameters of your planned activity. A Casino Night party for teenagers does the trick and does it well.
Casino games are great fun and people enjoy playing them- that’s why casino nights are so often used as fund raising events. And this goes for teens as well as grown-ups. The fact that a Casino night theme seems like a very ‘sophisticated’ thing to do helps get the kids invested in your party activities from the very beginning.
Playing card and dice games isn’t and doesn’t have to be the equivalent of gambling. Make it clear at the outset, on your invitation, that “Only Fun Allowed- No Gambling”. You can use poker chips to keep track of score, or your counters can be pennies, M&M’s, matchsticks, anything. Further invest the kids in your party by encouraging them all to “Dress for Vegas”; fancy clothes can equate to better behavior in the kids’ minds.
Borrow a bunch of card tables and chairs, but you can have more kids than seats to allow for that socializing when there’s no available game to play. To keep the dice contained rather than flying onto the floor, make some dice trays using the low cardboard trays from the beer or soda store. You can paint them, contact paper them, or leave them just the way they are. You’ll need cards and dice enough for every game.
Set up a buffet table to encourage grazing. Keep it easy with store-bought frozen meatballs, purchased or home-made chicken wings with sauce, salad, and/or a 6 foot hero. It doesn’t need to be fancy food, just look nice with some dice, jokers and face cards, and poker chips sprinkled around the buffet table for themed decoration. Have a big tub of soda and bottled water on ice for the kids to grab as needed. Tunes in the background will keep the mood festive.
In addition to the ever popular poker and blackjack games, you can find a variety of appropriate and fun dice games on line. If you’ve got the room and the budget for it, I strongly recommend including a craps game in your casino night lineup. A craps table cover can be bought for $20-$30, so it’s not out of sight. Craps is by far and away the most fascinating and complex of the dice games, and many would say it’s by far the most fun. If you’ve ever been to a casino, you know that it’s always the loudest with laughter and whoops. It will definitely challenge the kids to learn how to play all the variations contained in a craps game and think about the differing odds for each.
And there’s one other advantage to including a craps game: you’ll need a croupier to man the table that understands the game, and no teenage guest is going to want to be stuck with that job all night long. So- your croupier needs to be an adult, who then becomes an adult presence in the room. And that’s a good thing. There’s plenty of online help to learn how to play the game to get your croupier up to speed so he or she can in turn teach the kids and run the game.
A casino party isn’t hard to pull off and everybody will have lots of fun. The games will keep the teens busy competing to do well and to do better than the next guy (or girl). You can finish the evening off with a silly prize or two for the nights ‘big winners’. While teens are indeed harder to please and to engage in games than younger kids, it CAN be done, and casino games will do it. The more engaged they are, the less likely it is that your teenage gathering will spin out of control into activities you don’t want occurring.
Here are two fun kissing party games that teenagers would enjoy.
Kissing Race
Props: None
Number of people: 8+
Can be played in a big room or outdoors.
Divide your guests into two groups – boys and girls. Let the boys number themselves from 1 to ? and let the girls do the same. Players must keep their number a secret.
The host stands in the middle and call out two random numbers – if the host is male, then the first number will be that of a girl and the second number that of a boy. Whoever’s number was called must run up to the host to kiss him. The boy whose number was called must try to kiss the girl before she gets to kiss the host.
Whoever manages to ‘get there first’ takes over he roll of the host in calling the next two numbers.
Play until everybody has had a turn or until the game decends into chaos.
Kissing Roulette
Props: 2 Dice; Numbered cards with body parts; 2 Sets of cards numbered from 1 to max number of boys/girls.
Number of people: 6+
Divide your guests into two groups – boys and girls. Hand out number cards to the boys and the girls. Players must keep their number a secret.
The host throws the dice 3 times. The first number selects the girl, the second number selects the boy she must kiss and the third number selects a card that displays a body part where she has to kiss him.
Ideas for body part cards:
The hand;
The cheek;
The lips;
The nose;
The backside;
The foot
Continue playing, next time selecting the boy first and then selecting the girl he has to kiss.
Play until everybody has had a turn at being ‘kisser’.
Thank you notes are making a comeback in a big way. They have been featured on episodes on Oprah. The handwritten thank you has also been used by business and corporate America to get ahead.
If you believe in The Secret or the Law of Attraction, then the thank you note is an ideal way to communicate to the world that you are open for appreciation and kindness–personally and professionally. Remember the more you express your gratitude, the more you will have to be grateful for.
Look for opportunities to show your gratitude. Here are some great opportunities to communicate with others and share your gratitude:
Ideal Occasions for Sending Thank You Notes or Thank You Cards
o Receipt of gift such as birthday, bridal shower, new baby
o To thank attendees for coming to a party or event such as wedding or retirement party
o Overnight guest in somebody’s home
o To say thank you for a meal at someone’s home or restaurant
o Thank you for the bonus at work
o Thank you to customer for making a purchase or continued patronage
o Thank you for a ride to the airport or to work
o Job interview
o Co-worker for contributing to a project or switching shifts
o Family member or friend for valuable advice or phone call
o Sending flowers
o Sympathy thank you letter
o Charitable contribution
o Thank you for business referral
o Thank you to volunteers
o Thank you to teacher, surgeon, doctor, medical donor
o Thank you for baby sitting, house-sitting, feeding pet while on vacation
Quick Tips for Your Thank You Notes
o With an exception to “thank for the add” use the words “Thank you.” It is classic for a reason.
o Use the word, “you” more than the word I–particularly in business. Studies at Duke University show that people that the word “you” is among the most persuasive and powerful words in the English language.
o Send your note ASAP. For job interviews the same day or the very next day for gifts or acts of kindness within two weeks. However, there is no statute of limitations on giving thanks. A late thank you is better than no thank you at all.
o Make sure to be specific instead of generic. This is easily done by mentioning the specific gift or favor and addressing the specific person or couple.
o Avoid “group thank you” notes. Each person (or couple) gets his or her own thank you note.
o Send it the old-fashioned way with a stamp. Unless you know for a fact the person prefers Email (especially in business or for major occasions such as weddings, baby showers, and christenings), put it in the mail.
Wording Ideas and Sample Thank You Note
Keep it short and simple. At a loss for words?
o Use a famous quote such as Shakespeare’s, “I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.”
o Say thank you with a poem or verse.
o Use this basic template. “Thank you for (insert name of gift or favor). It was the/a (insert compliment such as perfect color or a wonderful meal). Your generosity (or kindness) is truly appreciated. Thanks again.”
Now you know the basics for spreading the gratefulness you have in your heart via a thank you note, thank you card, or letter. If you are feeling particularly sad or unappreciated at your job or in your personal life, there is no better cure than gratitude. If you feel like you are on top of the world, then keep those good vibes rolling by sharing your joy!
Gratitude diminishes sadness and multiplies joy. Thank you for reading this article.
Below you will find many memorial and remembrance ideas that you can use to keep the memory of your loved one alive. After the funeral, memorial service or life celebration, many people wish to have something permanent as a reminder of the person that they loved and lost. It may help to think about what was important to the person you lost. What did they value? What made them smile? Perhaps by beginning there, the appropriate memorial will present itself. Here are 10 ideas that may help to guide you.
– You can plant a tree in their memory. You can find tree seedlings on the internet. You could also buy a tree at a local nursery.
– Donate a memorial bench: if they loved golf, their favorite golf course may welcome the donation of a memorial bench. You may also consider purchasing a plaque or a brick in their name to help fund a community project.
– Have a star in the sky named after your loved one.
– Plant a section in the garden each year with their favorite flowers. You also may want to add a stepping stone or rock with their name on it in their special section of the garden. Consider each year sharing flowers from that section of the garden with the family and friends of your loved one.
– Start a college scholarship in their name.
– Create a video or DVD from photos and video or movie clips. This video can be played at family gatherings and on the person’s birthday or anniversary of their death. You can also easily make copies to share with close friends and relatives.
– Create a book of memories for the deceased’s family. Have friends and family write on note cards and include the note cards with photos in the book. You may also want to include newspaper articles about the deceased, the obituary etc.
– Create a memorial on the web – there are several websites that allow loved ones to memorialize the deceased through video, pictures, and voice recordings.
– Keep a journal of your memories, your thoughts and what you learned from your loved one.
– Have your love one’s photo placed on a stamp. This also would be ideal for the thank you notes you will be sending for the flowers, donations and the help you will be receiving. Get more information at PhotoStamps.com. On the anniversary of their death or on their birthday, consider sending a card or a memorial gift to close friends and relatives.
Dealing with a loss of a loved one is so difficult. It’s important to do what brings you peace-of-mind. Focusing on a memorial may help you through the grief process and allow you to focus on the unique and positive aspects of your loved one’s life and how that life can be remembered and celebrated for years to come.
Graduations mark major transitions in our lives. High school, college, and even kindergarten graduates want the world to know what they have accomplished and rightfully so. Parents can help make these events even more special with graduation announcements and a graduation party. However, proper care must be taken that the etiquette regarding invitations and announcements is used.
Memorable graduation celebrations can take many forms. They can focus on the accomplishments of the young graduate, look to the future, or carry a fun theme that all of your guests will enjoy. Organizing these events provides ample opportunity for parents to brag about their child’s achievement, and with good reason.
Put Out The Word
There are a limited number of seats available at most graduation ceremonies, so those seats should be reserved for immediate family and closest friends only. Of course, there are plenty other friends and family members who will want to hear the good news. Graduation announcements are an excellent way to share this good news.
Creating a graduation announcement follows many of the same rules of etiquette used in wedding announcements and invitations. Graduation announcements are typically sent out between two weeks before and two weeks after the event. Many families wait until after the graduation so they can incorporate a photograph of the graduate in their robe, using photo cards. Your graduation announcement should include the date of the ceremony, the name of the educational institution and the accomplishment.
The inner envelope, which holds the announcement and any photographs, should be addressed informally, such as ‘Aunt Mary.’ The announcement should be placed in the envelope facing the flap. This envelope is placed inside the mailing envelope with the flap facing the mailing side. Envelope seals add a touch of elegance to your proud announcement. A copy of the announcement and photo cards are great mementos and should be saved for the family scrapbook.
Planning A Graduation Party
As much as your young graduate will probably want to go out and celebrate with their friends, it is important that they recognize the contributions to their success made by friends and family members. There will certainly be time enough for celebrating with their friends and this social obligation provides an excellent teaching opportunity for parents. Enlisting the help of your graduate in the planning process is a great way to build their social skills and their enthusiasm for the event.
1. Guest List: As with any party, the first step is to create a guest list. The number and ages of your guests will determine many aspects of your graduation party. Once you have an idea of how many guests you can expect, you can begin to make decisions about the invitations, food and beverages, decorations and any outside help you may need.
2. Tone/Theme: Graduation party invitations can vary depending upon the formality of your event. Graduation parties can be elegant, black tie affairs, or they can be beachside events that feature a bonfire and barbecue. It depends upon what you and the young graduate want. In either extreme, graduation party invitations must be ordered. Consider using photo cards as invitations that feature images related to the theme of the event.
3. Venue: Once you have determined the venue for your graduation celebration, you can design the menu. Finger foods are a good choice for any party. You will want the food to be easy to handle and easy to clean up after. Vegetable trays, cheese and crackers, fruit salad, chicken wings, and other hors d’oeuvres are excellent choices. If your graduation party will feature a sit down dinner, you should mention that information in your invitations.
4. Decorations: Decorations set the mood for any party. Graduation parties are an excellent opportunity to share family photographs of your graduate. They are fun conversation starters and nearly always bring humorous groans of recognition and empathy. These types of photographs can also be used later to create memorable graduation announcements and photo cards. Balloons, streamers, hats, and banners are other good choices for creating a celebratory atmosphere at your graduation party.
The Fine Art Of Saying Thank You
There is considerable debate about whether or not gifts should be brought to a graduation party or mailed following the receipt of a graduation announcement. While gifts should certainly not be expected, they should always be accepted graciously. If a gift is received, it is very important that a thank you card be sent to the giver as soon as possible.
Thank you notes should always be on the same stationary as the announcements and invitations and they should be personalized with comments about how the gift is being used. It is important that the giver be kept in mind as the thank you is being written. This is the time to really share your true gratitude for all those that took time to celebrate with you.
Graduates should also be encouraged to send thank you notes to the teachers, coaches, and other mentors who made a contribution to the graduate’s success. There is no such thing as an overnight success. Your graduate has worked hard and deserves the recognition and reward for their hard efforts. Graduation announcements and a graduation party are an excellent way to celebrate their success.
It’s that time again. You need a gift to take to a birthday, wedding, anniversary or any other occasion. Most of us don’t want to get just another gift, we all want to give and receive gifts that are timeless.
From the thoughtful custom necklace to the one-of-a-kind handmade trinket; we have you sorted out with our list of 20 anytime gifts that will never go out of fashion
The Thoughtful Gifts
1. Personalized Letter
In this day of technology, who wouldn’t love receiving a handwritten personalized letter? Personalized letters are particularly a great gift from children to grandparents or vice versa.
2. Memory Capsule
Memories are timeless. The best gift you could ever give a loved one is a piece of encapsulated memory. Recreate old photos taken with loved ones to form your memory capsule.
3. Quality Time
Sometimes your present is enough of a gift for that special person. Set aside ample time to spend a day together or go on a getaway.
4. Personalized Gift Cards
Personalized gift cards are still a timeless favorite from kid to parents or vice versa. Give out several with thoughtful tasks that they can be redeemed against.
5. Technology Lessons
Time has flown by and our grandparents, and parents, might need a little help catching up. Kids can gift their grandparents and immediate parents technology lessons to teach them about social media as well as the use of other gadgets.
Gifts for Him
6. RFID Wallet
Wallets are overly popular gifts for men, but not the RFID wallet. The RFID wallet will protect unwarranted card data theft, and it is one wallet he’ll be keeping for long.
7. Bartender Kit
Men love their drink, well most do. There isn’t a better gift for that drink lover than a bartender kit. A bartending set will also benefit you because, with it, he’ll be whipping up those delicious cocktails well into your hay days.
8. Balance Board
Balance is necessary for everyday life, and as we age, we lose our elementary balance. For the man looking to regain balance or just to keep fit, a balance board would be the perfect gift for them.
9. Smart Sprinkler Controller
Who is in charge of the sprinkler system, or just about any electronic, in your house? For that man, an intelligent sprinkler system would serve them well. Men love gadgets, and he will rave over the ability to control the sprinklers conveniently from a laptop/tablet/phone.
10. Watch
A good watch is always a great gift for that man in your life. It doesn’t have to cost much but go for a durable timepiece that will end up being an heirloom.
Gifts for Her
11. Jewellery
Let’s face it; time has proven it, women love jewelry. You can’t go wrong with a good custom necklace or just about any tasteful jewelry that she can pass on down the family tree.
12. Tea Set
Know a woman who loves tea? Then a tea set would make the perfect gift. This isn’t necessarily an age-restricted present; any woman who hosts company will like to add a good tea set in her collection.
13. Character Apron
Aprons are functional pieces of protective clothing and contrary to tradition; they don’t have to be flowery. Character aprons can instantly transform a lady into her beloved hero.
14. Scarf
Often overlooked, scarves are exquisite and complimentary outfit accents. Most women keep them for years, and that’s why they make it to our list of timeless gifts.
15. Handbag
Next to jewellry and shoes, women love handbags. Women also keep bags for years and getting her a good, quality bag is an ideal gift choice for any occasion.
A Custom Necklace and Other Custom Gift Ideas
16. Custom Pendants
A custom necklace is a good gift, but a custom locket is a great gift. A pendant allows you to take a treasured photo with you on the go. Anyone would love getting a personalized jewelry as a gift.
17. Picture Mug
Who doesn’t love a photo mug? Why not get her or him a collection of mugs with pictures of the people dearest to them?
18. Keychains
Everyone uses keychains at one point or another. Personalized keychains are thoughtful gift options.
19. Clocks
Clocks are also great options to personalize with custom photos. Go for a traditional wall clock or a wrist watch for a custom gift option.
20. Map
Have someone you have shared countless of adventures with? Get them a customized photo map to map out your travel memories.
There you have it; with our list of 20 anytime gifts that will never go out of fashion, you are equipped to give timeless and ageless gifts for any occasion.
Recently, a lot of people are taking courses in personal finance, and because of that they are looking for great ways to save money. There is an absolutely fantastic way to save money and one which allows you to live the lifestyle you are accustomed to without spending any money. One of the best ways of saving money you will ever come across, is the free gift cards with no purchase obligation.
What is meant by ‘no purchase obligation’? Well a few years ago, when companies spammed as a way to get your attention they would run these scammy advertisements where you could get free stuff, if you bought something. But that is not the case any longer, although you can still get some really cool free gift certificates without having to pull out your credit card and buy something.
These free gift cards come from marketing companies that are doing market research, so they need information about certain stores or products. You have to fill out the application and the form and then you get your gift code, or certificate. This information only takes about 5 to 10 minutes and is fairly simple and yes, even entertaining.
You will find the questions rather relaxing. It is not too much to tax your brain at night, yet it keeps you thinking. TV tends to tire you out because you aren’t required to think about much, but when you answer these questions about service, and products, well it gets your mind working a little and is fairly entertaining at the end of the day. This is only something you want to do in your spare time, and should not be taken as a full time job, but as a reward for answering questions viable companies like JCpenny, Walmart, and Kmart and others, offer you free gift codes which you can redeem any time you want either online or in the store.
This is a great way to pay for those Christmas gifts, those new clothes, electronics, baby items, pet stuff, even groceries, or dining out. Of course, you may end up with a card that you can’t use, but don’t worry, you can always exchange with other participants for gift cards that you can use.
It is really a simple and practical way for both the company to get the information they want, and for you to get the products you need.
Your profile picture is the first impression that you give to the world and the one you choose really says a lot about you, whether you realize it or not. I’ve been spending a lot of time on social networking websites, like Facebook and Twitter lately, and I’ve noticed a few things when it comes to profile pictures.
If you’re on Facebook for the sole purpose of connecting with family and friends, then your main concern should be that others can recognize you in your photos.
However, if you are on Facebook for business reasons, you need to consider many other factors. Your profile photo establishes how people perceive you, so you must always keep that in mind when deciding which profile picture to upload.
1) The Smiling Directly at the Camera Photo: I’m starting the list with my absolute favorite type of profile picture. When a person appears as if they are looking directly at you while also smiling, it says a lot. This type of photo leads people to believe that you are confident, outgoing and happy. It makes people feel like they can connect with you and even more than that- it makes people want to connect with you.
2) The Photo of a Random Body Part: Whether it’s your hair, ears, legs or feet, the photos of just a particular body part can mean a few different things. Either you have REALLY amazing toes, your face isn’t all that attractive or maybe you just like being mysterious. Either way, know that when a person can’t see your actual face it will make them wonder why.
3) The Embarrassing Photo: Thankfully, I don’t see this too often, but whenever I do I’m always left speechless. The embarrassing photo is the one that literally leaves you feeling embarrassed for the person every time you see it. This is the profile photo that makes you ask yourself, “WHY would they post this?!” Having an embarrassing photo as your main profile picture makes people question your common sense as well as your sanity.
4) The Photo of a Celebrity: I’m always curious as to why someone would choose to use a profile picture up of a celebrity instead of a photo of themselves. Do they actually like that person SO much that they forgo their right to show the world what they look like or is it just that they want people to somehow associate them with that particular celebrity? I get it on Doppelganger week, but using a celebrity as your main profile photo at any other time is weird and a little creepy.
5) The Random Photo: We’ve ALL seen this one. The profile picture that is of something so completely random, like a cartoon or a pair of striped gym socks, that you don’t even know what to say about it. Having a random photo up as your default picture leaves people unsure what to think about you.
6) The Company Logo: When a person uses their company logo as their main profile picture it probably means that the main reason they are a member of that particular social community is to network and connect with other professionals. If you are solely trying to network however, it is always a good idea to allow people to put a face to the company name. So having professional photos of yourself taken and uploading them to Facebook, is definitely not the worst idea if your goal is to appear professional and make connections.
7) The Photo of your Kids: Choosing to set your main profile photo as one of your children instead of yourself shows that you are on Facebook to connect with family and friends more than anything else. If this isn’t the case, you should save the family portraits for Christmas cards and photo albums and instead upload a photo that shows who you are.
9) The Dog/Cat/Fish/Other Random Pet Photo: This, for me, is the absolute worst. It’s OK that you love your pet, but ONLY posting photos of your four dogs makes you look like you don’t have much of a life. Yes, the photos of your cats sleeping in your bed and your birds eating an ice cream cone are extremely cute, but they don’t exactly make the best profile pictures. Choose a profile picture that shows your best side, not your animals’.
10) The Mysterious Profile Photo: The mysterious default picture is the one that only shows half of your face, therefore making you appear somewhat mysterious. Setting a msyterious photo as your main picture generally makes people curious to find out more about you.
11) The Photo Where Other People Are Clearly Cut Out: We’ve all seen the badly cropped photos that only allow you to see the missing persons hand or shoulder. I always feel bad for the person cut out of the photo because although you took the time to take a photo next to them, you also took the time to crop them out which says a lot. Photos that cut other people out of them make the world wonder what the story behind the photo is. Is the cropped out person an ex-lover? An ex-friend? Who is the missing person?!
Other things to consider when choosing a profile picture:
1) Alcohol: Photos that have alcohol in them, even if it’s ‘just a beer’ will make people look at you as less professional. If you aren’t trying to be professional then by all means, upload a picture of you and your friends taking shots or playing beer pong. But if you want to establish a somewhat professional presence online, then definitely stay away from photos that have alcohol in them or look like they were taken at a club.
2) Skin: The amount of skin you show in your profile picture really says a lot about you. A little chest or leg never hurt anyone but guys– posting photos of yourselves in the bathroom mirror, without a shirt on is SO MySpace and really needs to stop. And girls– those photos of you in a bathing suit or even worse, a bra, does not say much about you besides the fact that you’re willing to allow complete strangers to see you almost naked. It usually appears pretty desperate and is definitely unprofessional. Is that the impression you want to give to the world? Think about that one before posting.
3) What kind of face are you making? The attitude that you are presenting to the world is also a huge factor to consider. Are you smiling? Are you looking away? Are you making a kissy face? Are you telling the world to f* off? What you’re actually doing in your main profile picture says a lot about you so make sure to consider that when uploading a new profile photo.
The bottom line:
Your profile picture on social networking websites is an introduction to the world. Think about the main reasons that you’re on Facebook, Twitter or any other social communities for that matter and then choose your profile picture accordingly.
Which category do you fall under?! If you’re not sure, leave a comment with your Facebook link and I’ll let you know what I think your profile picture says about you!:)
Gingerbread has been around for a long time, but the recipes used to make it have changed considerably over the years. Initially gingerbread was made from breadcrumbs, ginger, and a sweetener, like honey. People discovered that ginger has preservative properties and used it accordingly.
The recipe for gingerbread changed, and by the 15th century (the 1400s), the breadcrumbs had been replaced by flour. Honey was replaced with molasses. The biscuit became lighter. Some recipes made sweet, thin crisps of ginger and others were thicker and more biscuit-like.
Pictoral scenes that told stories were carved in wood and the gingerbread was rolled and pressed into them.
It was first made into figures (like people) n the 16th century (the 1500s). Queen Elizabeth I of England is credited with the first gingerbread men.
Queen Elizabeth was queen of England starting in November of 1558. (She was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.) Queen Elizabeth was known for having well dressed courtiers in her court. She has been credited with the first gingerbread men. The story goes that she had gingerbread cookies made and decorated to look like her favorite courtiers, and had the cookies presented to them.
Gingerbread men tend to have vague shapes. For instance, the legs do not have definite feet, and they certainly don’t have any toes. The arms don’t have definite arms, and they definitely don’t have any fingers. Gingerbread women are equally simple in design. Gingerbread expands when it bakes, even recipes without eggs. As a consequence, the cookies work better when they are not overly detailed.
The detail work comes into play when you decorate these cookies.
So, gingerbread men and women needed houses, chairs, tables, beds, wagons, trees, and livestock that is also made out of gingerbread, and bakers created these.
The Brothers Grimm wrote Hansel and Gretel in 1812. The story told of a witch that wanted to eat the children, Hansel and Gretel. She fattened them up with candy and other sweets, and the children munched on a house made of gingerbread. Gingerbread houses became popular at that time, especially in Germany.
Gingerbread houses are popular in the United States and many parts of Europe, but oddly, not England. These houses are most common during the Christmas season, but also work well for every other holiday. Valentine’s Day houses are decorated with pink, red, and white candy. Halloween houses have ghosts popping out of them and are often purposely constructed “wrong.” The only limits with gingerbread houses are your imagination and the size of your cookie sheets. (I like to design one or two each year from index cards. Remember that gingerbread is thicker than paper, but put together the cards into whatever kind of house you can design.)
My favorite recipe for gingerbread houses is called ” the alternate recipe.” I replace the shortening with butter and use corn syrup instead of molasses.