Today's episode is something of a Black Friday special. Join Joe as he recounts the history of the gingerbread man, one of the most recognizable an iconic cookies of Christmastime.
This week's episode airs on Black Friday, the day where we pretend Christmas trees haven't been up in department stores since September and start indulging in our favorite end of year treats. Given the short week due to Thanksgiving and poor planning, this episode is only 6 minutes long and is just Joe explaining the history of gingerbread with a lot of fun facts thrown in. Joe explains how Frederick III was likely the first person to fashion gingerbread cookies into the shape of a man (himself) and the history of the famous Pierniki Torunski. Joe describes the battle between Nuremberg and Torun, Poland for gingerbread supremacy, as well as the legally protected status of Nuremberg gingerbread by the EU today. The episode ends with a rapid fire pile of fun facts about gingerbread.
Have a safe and happy weekend everyone!
Sources:
Max Miller, Tasting History: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNIvtkADcCA
Gingerbread World: https://gingerbread-world.com/blogs/news/germany-travelogue-nuremberg-famous-for-lebkuchen
Martha Stewart, Gingerbread History: https://www.marthastewart.com/1523540/gingerbread-holiday-history
UK Gov Protected Geographical Indication: https://www.gov.uk/protected-food-drink-names/nurnberger-lebkuchen
Torun Gingerbread, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toru%C5%84_gingerbread
Gingerbread, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingerbread
Lebkuchen, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebkuchen
Ianyan Mag, Gregory of Nicopolis: http://www.ianyanmag.com/how-an-armenian-monk-brought-gingerbread-to-the-west/
McKinsey, Virginia HQ2: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-and-social-sector/our-insights/how-state-and-local-governments-win-at-attracting-companies
Nurnberger Lebkuchen, Pfeffer & Frost: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-and-social-sector/our-insights/how-state-and-local-governments-win-at-attracting-companies
Nat Geo, Gingerbread History: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/gingerbread-historic-treat-of-spice-and-structure
Age of Revolution: https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/08/ages-of-revolution-how-old-1776