Contemporary Christmas: Gingerbread Houses Forever Stamps

Issue Date: November 6, 2013
City: New York, NY
Printed By: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Perforations: Serpentine Die Cut 11
Color: Multicolored

This festive stamp is part of a block of four issued for the 2013 holiday season, featuring charming, hand-crafted gingerbread houses created specifically for the stamp designs.

Gingerbread traces its roots back centuries, with recipes and ingredients varying widely around the world. The gingerbread houses loved by Americans today are far different from their medieval predecessors. The word “gingerbread” evolved from the French term “gingerbras”, meaning “preserved ginger.” In the days before refrigeration, ginger was often used to disguise the taste of spoiled meat. By the 15th century, one of the earliest-known recipes called for boiling breadcrumbs in honey, spicing the mixture, and pressing it into wooden molds. By the 16th century, English bakers replaced breadcrumbs with flour, adding eggs and sugar, while Queen Elizabeth I — a noted dessert enthusiast — is credited with introducing the first gingerbread men.

Decorated gingerbread houses soon became a beloved holiday tradition. Recipes differ by region — some use wine, brandy, or ale, while others incorporate candied citrus, pepper, or anise in place of ginger. Honey and molasses often stand in for sugar. No matter the variation, these whimsical cottages continue to bring joy to families and friends, capturing the sweet spirit of the season.