National Gingerbread House Day is a fun, unofficial holiday celebrated annually on December 12th. It’s dedicated to baking, decorating, and creating gingerbread houses. It’s a festive way to slow down, get creative, and savor a little holiday sweetness.

For many, there’s something special about sitting down with a blank gingerbread canvas and a bowl of colorful sweets, ready to build a house made of sugar and imagination. Whether your house ends up perfectly decorated or lopsided, the fun is in the creating, and the sweet memories that come with it.

Do you enjoying building gingerbread houses or have a holiday tradition around them that you would like to share? Please let me know in the comment section below!

History of Gingerbread Houses

So where did the gingerbread house originate? An article at pbs.org indicates gingerbread houses originated in Germany during the 16th century. The elaborate cookie-walled houses, decorated with foil in addition to gold leaf, became associated with Christmas traditions. Their popularity rose when the Brothers Grimm wrote the story of Hansel and Gretel, in which the main characters stumble upon a house made entirely of treats deep in the forest. It is unclear whether or not gingerbread houses were a result of the popular fairy tale, or vice versa.

Are you curious about the largest gingerbread house ever built? I was! According to the guinessworldrecords.com, the largest gingerbread house was created by Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas on November 30, 2013. The house measured 60 feet long, 42 feet wide and 10.1 feet tall at its highest point. Wow!

Ways to Celebrate National Gingerbread House Day

Here are a few fun ways you can celebrate National Gingerbread House Day if you’re interested.

Buy or Bake & Decorate: Buy classic gingerbread house kits from the store (fast and kid-friendly), or bake your own panels. To decorate use gumdrops, peppermint candies, mini marshmallows, pretzels, chocolate pieces, sprinkles, etc. Use icing as “glue”.

Host a Party: Organize a casual gingerbread house building party with friends or family. Put on a holiday playlist and keep it low-key: it’s all about fun, not perfection.

Enjoy Gingerbread Treats: Sip on gingerbread lattes or have some gingerbread cookies.

Tips for Stress-Free Gingerbread Houses

Check out these quick tips for a fun and stress-free gingerbread house decorating experience.

Assemble the houses earlier so they’re dry before decorating.

Use paper plates or cardboard as simple bases.

Keep wipes or damp cloths nearby.

Embrace “messy” houses as those are usually the ones kids love most.

NCP Panel Members: If you love making gingerbread houses, cookies, etc., or any other holiday DYI crafts and treats, be sure to scan all your purchases. Your regular shopping purchases, as well as any special holiday purchases, make an impact and should be reported on a consistent weekly basis. Thank you!

Gingerbread houses aren’t about perfection (unless you’re entering a competition!). So embrace the mess and let your imagination lead the way. Sweet memories are guaranteed. The experience is what makes it special.

Regards,
Taylor

More from NCP

Click here to check out our holiday-related blogs, past and present.

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