Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: November 20th, 2022. Today is not only National Cranberry Day but it’s National Gingerbread Cookie Day. Which makes sense with Thanksgiving happening on Thursday.
National Cranberry Day** #NationalCranberryDay
It just goes to show that the history of Cranberries with its delicious flavor and the odd name has been around since before America was America. Aside from being delicious, there have been discoveries stating Cranberries are incredibly healthy for you. Cranberries are with anti-oxidants and rich nutrients. National Cranberry Day encourages you to follow a long-standing tradition and enjoy Cranberries throughout the year, not just at Thanksgiving.
History of National Cranberry Day
Let us first address the unusual name that is “Cranberry”. What is a cran anyway? Well, it turns out the name for Cranberry was originally Craneberry, derived from the German “kraanbere”. My question is why would a Berry be named after a Bird? If you guessed it was because Cranerries were a favorite food of the Bird known as the Crane? You’d be wrong, but you would be on the right track. Craneberry got its name due to the English believing that the flowers and stem resembled the neck of the Crane.
Once settlement of the Americas began Cranberry became a very popular crop, seeing export to Europe and an embrace as a traditional food for the Thanksgiving Holiday by the Colonists. Today Cranberry Sauce is enjoyed all over the world, but nowhere near as much as it is in the USA, where it is considered an important part of every Turkey based holiday, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. While most people are familiar with the traditional deep red of Cranberries, White Cranberries are also popular for their lighter flavor and are the result of harvesting them early before their color deepens.
How to celebrate National Eat A Cranberry Day
You celebrate National Eat A Cranberry Day by eating a Cranberry! Or drinking a Cranberry. No one will fault you for preferring the tart flavor of Cranberry in beverage form over its natural solid form. Cranberry Juice happens to mix delightfully with some of the more traditionally sweet Fruits, providing countless health benefits and a tartness that is the perfect compliment to the sweetness of Fruits like Pear, Grape, and Apple. Why not pick up a glass, or a fork, and enjoy a Cranberry for National Cranberry Day?
Five facts about Cranberries:
Did you know another name for Cranberries is “Bounceberries” because Craberries bounce when ripe.
Some Native Americans called the Cranberry “ibimi” which means “bitter Berry.”
Native Americans and Pilgrims used Cranberries as a red dye.
Cranberry is one of only a handful of major Fruits native to North America. Others include Blueberry and Concord Grape.
During the days of wooden ships and iron men, American vessels carried Cranberries. This was the Cranberry’s generous supply of vitamin C that prevented scurvy.
National Gingerbread Cookie Day
Gingerbread cookies have soft and chewy insides with a hint of a crispy outside and often they are decorated with piped frosting. National Gingerbread Cookie Day aims to appreciate and enjoy everything related to this unassuming but fantastic little cookie!
History of Gingerbread Cookie Day
When the Crusaders brought Ginger back from the Middle East, they likely had no idea that this gnarly root would ultimately wind up being such an important part of Christmas baking traditions.
Some stories reveal that Gingerbread arrived in Europe sometime around the 10th Century when Gregory of Nicopolis, an Armenian Monk, invested some time in teaching French bakers how to make Gingerbread a sturdy little Cake that was sometimes even used in Religious ceremonies.
Gingerbread has developed throughout history since that time, starting out as something that was not so sweet as it is today. Gingerbread Man Cookies seems to have been an idea of Queen Elizabeth I, or at least some of her baking staff. During her reign in the 16th Century, Elizabeth threw a party and her Chefs created gifts in the form of Gingerbread Men that resembled each of her important guests.
Since that time, recipes for Gingerbread Cookies have continued to evolve, turning into something that is a bit less “Bread” and a lot more Cookie!
One tradition surrounding Gingerbread Man Cookies is that young women used to have folk medicine practitioners create a Gingerbread Man for them. The women would give the Gingerbread Men to the man she wanted to marry. if she could get the man to eat the Gingerbread Man, he would be hers forever!
Perhaps Gingerbread Man Cookies don’t still have that kind of power in today’s modern world, but that doesn’t mean Gingerbread Cookies don’t deserve a day devoted just to them.
How to Celebrate Gingerbread Cookie Day
National Gingerbread Cookie Day comes with all sorts of opportunities to enjoy and celebrate this delicious Holiday! Consider some of these fun and yummy ideas to get started in planning your celebration:
Enjoy Eating Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread Cookies are delicious and are especially enjoyable when eaten in the cooler Autumn months. Gingerbread Cookies warm mix of Ginger, cinnamon and other Spices means that National Gingerbread Cookie Day offers a whole lot of comfort on a cool November Day. Gingerbread Cookies can be enjoyed with a glass of Milk or cup of Tea.
Choose a local bakery that will be carrying Gingerbread Cookies during this Season and order Gingerbread Cookies ahead of toe or pick the Cookies up on the day as a way to celebrate! Mabey the Bakery will even offer a discount or deal in honor of Gingerbread Cookie Day.
Try Making Gingerbread Cookies at Home
November is a great month for baking as the weather cools and the days get shorter. National Gingerbread Cookie Day is a great time to preheat the oven and ready to mix, roll, cut and bake Gingerbread Cookies. Perhaps a special recipe has been handed down from Grandma or an Aunt. If not, it’s fairly easy to make a quick search and find simple Gingerbread Cookie recipes online.
Have some fun making the Gingerbread Cookies by using a variety of cookie cutters in a bunch of unique shapes. Of course, there are the classic Gingerbread Man and Gingerbread Woman shapes that are always popular. Other appropriate shapes for the season might include Leaves, and Trees.
Facts About Gingerbread Cookies
Have tons of fun on National Gingerbread Cookie Day by learning various bits of trivia that can be shared with family.
- The first Cookbook published in the US, American Cookery by Amelia Simmons, contained three different recipes for Gingerbread.
- According to Swedish folk tradition, Gingerbread Man Cookies hold magical powers for making wishes.
- The Gingerbread Boy was a story that appeared in St. Nicholas Magazine in 1875.
- The world’s largest Gingerbread Man Cookie was set by the IKEA staff in Oslo, Norway in 2009.
Host a Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Contest
With Gingerbread Cookies that are made ahead of time, a fun activity in celebration of National Gingerbread Cookie Day would be to hold a Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Contest. Get ready ahead of time by having the necessary supplies including Frosting of various colors, piping bags, and various decorations including Nonpareils, Sprinkles, or edible glitter.
The Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Contest can be low-key and simply among family members at home, or it could be on a grander scale where friends, or neighbors are invited to attend and prizes are given out to the winners. Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Contest could turn into a celebration, perhaps even becoming an annual event that draws people in the community together based on their love of Gingerbread Cookies.
This is a great time to get practice in for the day that’s coming up next month – Gingerbread Decorating Day!
Share Gingerbread Cookies
One of the most fun parts of baking Gingerbread Cookies is not just eating them yourself, but sharing the Cookies with others! When baking for a Holiday like National Gingerbread Cookie Day, it’s best to make an extra batch of Cookies to give away.
Take decorated Gingerbread Cookies to neighbors family members. Perhaps even make Gingerbread Cookies up to take into the office to share with coworkers. Gingerbread Cookies are sure to bring delight to anyone who receives a Cookie.
Hold a Gingerbread Cookie Bake Off
Many people have Gingerbread Cookie recipes that have been handed down through generations. National Gingerbread Cookie Day would be a fun time to gather a few different friends who are proud of their recipes and use the recipes to make cookies and see who’s Gingerbread Cookies are the best.
National Gingerbread Cookie Day FAQs
Can dogs eat gingerbread cookies?
A small piece of Gingerbread Cookie will not hurt your Animals the way Chocolate might, but Gingerbread isn’t part of a Pet’s healthy diet.
Can you freeze gingerbread cookies?
Gingerbread Cookies freeze well and can stay frozen for up to six months.
Easy recipes for Gingerbread Cookies:
Gingerbread Cookies can be made from a basic Cookie recipe that adds Molasses, Cinnamon and Ginger.[
Where did Gingerbread Cookies originate?
The first Gingerbread Man Cookies are credited to Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th Century.
Can Gingerbread Cookies go bad?
Gingerbread Cookies can last 2-3 weeks at room temperature and 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
