Gingerbread man
History and characteristics
A gingerbread man is a biscuit or cookie made from gingerbread, usually in the shape of a stylized human being, although other shapes, especially seasonal themes (Christmas, Halloween, Easter, etc.) and characters are common too.
History
A gingerbread man, with icing decoration Freshly baked gingerbread men
with a variety of decorations A partly-eaten gingerbread man A half
consumed gingerbread man, with icing decoration and Smarties as
buttons Gingerbread dates from the 15th century, and
figurative biscuit-making was practised in the 16th century.
The first documented instance of figure-shaped gingerbread
biscuits was at the court of Elizabeth I of England.
She had the gingerbread figures made and presented in the likeness of
some of her important guests which brought the human shape of the
gingerbread cookies.
Characteristics
Gingerbread man and his wife and dog with a gingerbread house Gingerbread salesman (1902) Most gingerbread men share a roughly humanoid shape, with stubby feet and no fingers. Many gingerbread men have a face, though whether the features are indentations within the face itself or other candies stuck on with icing or chocolate varies from recipe to recipe. Other decorations are common; hair, shirt cuffs, and shoes are sometimes applied, but by far the most popular decoration is shirt buttons, which are traditionally represented by gum drops, icing, or raisins.
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