A Gingerbread Home for the Holidays

Nothing like a gingerbread house to get you in the holiday mood...

The tradition of building gingerbread houses can be traced to the medieval age in Europe, when crusaders brought back spicy bread from the middle east. The ginger spice was not only tasty, but also preserved the bread. Master bakers from Nuremberg, often referred to as the Gingerbread Capital of the World, then created elaborate pieces for the holidays, and since the 13th century, has become a custom that spread throughout Europe.

In San Francisco, the Fairmont Hotel has been displaying elaborate gingerbread houses for the holidays for over a century. This year, the Fairmont's gingerbread masterpiece is a two-story Victorian almost 22 feet high and 23 feet wide with thousands of gingerbread bricks and an unbelievable amount of frosting and candy.

Last December 14, the Fairmont and Raffles Makati held a special Gingerbread House Decorating Event to kick off the holidays. Guests were invited to decorate their very own gingerbread houses with frosting, candy and icing.

The intricate details, delicate frosting and candy canes bring you back to simpler times, when just being with family was more than enough.

And to see the simple joys of Christmas, in a child's eye, reminds you of the true meaning of Christmas.

And for a few moments, it's okay to feel like a kid again.

Here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas...

For more on Fairmont and Raffles Hotels' Gingerbread Houses, you can call the holiday hotline at 555-9848 or send an email at dining.makati@fairmont.com.

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