Advent is recognized by some, but not all Christian sects, as a time of preparation. Although the preparation for advent is not centered around decorating, shopping, or baking, it can certainly appear as that is the case. Homemade cookies are as much a part of Christmas as Christmas trees, and eggnog. To get homemade cookies, you can bake your own, join a cookie exchange where you make a bunch of one or two types to share, do a joint effort like many of us had this past Saturday at Bake at the Lake, or a combination of the three. The unique thing about baking is the conjured memories of a more carefree childhood of Christmas' past in the aromas produced by the mixture of artery hardening, fat producing ingredients.
It is in the past to medieval 14th and 15th century Europe, particularly Germany, that we find the first commonly recognized Christmas cookies. The first Christmas cookies were ones we commonly know, and make, today--lebkucher, also known as gingerbread, and butter spritz cookies. In a historical aside, some attribute the first cookies, albeit not Christmas, to 7th century Persia, while others say it goes to the Neolithic period setting a paste of grain and water on hot stones to bake. The first gingerbread may have been conjured up by the Crusaders who made it using breadcrumbs, honey and spices, and then laying it on a flat carved board to dry. The carvings were typically religious scenes. This would lead to the cut out gingerbread cookies we know today.
By 1500, Christmas cookie baking, which is thought to have started in Germany, had spread over Europe. The Dutch brought the custom to the new world and it is their word "koekje" that is the origin of our word "cookie". Of course the Dutch were preceded in European settlement of the eastern seaboard by the Puritans. The commonly associated meaning we have of the word "Puritan" is an apt description of this group. Not only did they not want people observing Christmas, but for part of the 17th century Massachusetts, with its strong Puritan influence, fined observers of this holy feast day five shillings. A traditional holiday mincemeat pie, which, along with the fruitcake, is loosing its luster in contemporary America, was called "idolatrie in a crust" by Governor William Bradford. The second wave of English settlers, primarily Anglican, were not as religiously doctrinaire and would celebrate Christmas. Although Scrooge shows that distaste for Christmas celebration was not limited to the high strung Puritans.
The cookie cutter craze took off in the US in the mid 1800's when those objects were allowed to be imported. Rather than the simple American squares and circles, the ones in Europe had advanced to a variety of shapes, including animals and people. Think of the Teutonic solider a common symbol of Christmas popularized through a well known ballet. Being a "melting pot", or what I like to refer to as a "stew", American's are fortunate to have a diffusion of various cultures allowing us to borrow traits we like, and ignore those we don't like, of different cultures. Cookies come in different varieties, and shapes each formed by their unique culture tradition, and some have been altered in uniquely American ways, but the presence of Christmas cookies is cross-cultural in Christian traditions. The gingerbread we make and eat today tastes better than that the Crusader's made 1,000 years ago, although it is not likely any better (may actually be less better) for us. The importance of the cookies is not something tasty to eat, rather that it is usually for a sharing of time with family and friends. The next time you sit by the Christmas tree looking at the soldier boy ornament, while eating a Christmas cookie, think of our cultural inheritance from Germany and other parts of Europe. Most importantly, however, think of the value of giving and service, which is the true meaning of Christmas.
It is in the past to medieval 14th and 15th century Europe, particularly Germany, that we find the first commonly recognized Christmas cookies. The first Christmas cookies were ones we commonly know, and make, today--lebkucher, also known as gingerbread, and butter spritz cookies. In a historical aside, some attribute the first cookies, albeit not Christmas, to 7th century Persia, while others say it goes to the Neolithic period setting a paste of grain and water on hot stones to bake. The first gingerbread may have been conjured up by the Crusaders who made it using breadcrumbs, honey and spices, and then laying it on a flat carved board to dry. The carvings were typically religious scenes. This would lead to the cut out gingerbread cookies we know today.
By 1500, Christmas cookie baking, which is thought to have started in Germany, had spread over Europe. The Dutch brought the custom to the new world and it is their word "koekje" that is the origin of our word "cookie". Of course the Dutch were preceded in European settlement of the eastern seaboard by the Puritans. The commonly associated meaning we have of the word "Puritan" is an apt description of this group. Not only did they not want people observing Christmas, but for part of the 17th century Massachusetts, with its strong Puritan influence, fined observers of this holy feast day five shillings. A traditional holiday mincemeat pie, which, along with the fruitcake, is loosing its luster in contemporary America, was called "idolatrie in a crust" by Governor William Bradford. The second wave of English settlers, primarily Anglican, were not as religiously doctrinaire and would celebrate Christmas. Although Scrooge shows that distaste for Christmas celebration was not limited to the high strung Puritans.
The cookie cutter craze took off in the US in the mid 1800's when those objects were allowed to be imported. Rather than the simple American squares and circles, the ones in Europe had advanced to a variety of shapes, including animals and people. Think of the Teutonic solider a common symbol of Christmas popularized through a well known ballet. Being a "melting pot", or what I like to refer to as a "stew", American's are fortunate to have a diffusion of various cultures allowing us to borrow traits we like, and ignore those we don't like, of different cultures. Cookies come in different varieties, and shapes each formed by their unique culture tradition, and some have been altered in uniquely American ways, but the presence of Christmas cookies is cross-cultural in Christian traditions. The gingerbread we make and eat today tastes better than that the Crusader's made 1,000 years ago, although it is not likely any better (may actually be less better) for us. The importance of the cookies is not something tasty to eat, rather that it is usually for a sharing of time with family and friends. The next time you sit by the Christmas tree looking at the soldier boy ornament, while eating a Christmas cookie, think of our cultural inheritance from Germany and other parts of Europe. Most importantly, however, think of the value of giving and service, which is the true meaning of Christmas.
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