Gingerbread houses are very creative and decorative. Although they can be creative and decorative, they have been around longer than you might think. Gingerbread houses have been around since medieval times. According to what sources tell us gingerbread houses went through 3 main phases. It started in medieval times. The gingerbread houses were then modernized around the 19th century. Finally, its modern use from the 20th century to the present day. (Ultimate Gingerbread, 2013) Also, how we shape gingerbread today and what types of tools we use to build a gingerbread house and how they compete. Gingerbread houses began in Europe in medieval times. During this time, people used gingerbread houses for many things. Ginger root was discovered in Eastern Europe by Marco Polo who discovered ginger grown on the Caribbean islands (Trowbridge, n.d.). Ginger can also be found in Africa, the West Indies, China, Japan, India and southern Florida. (Where Ginger Grows, n.d.) In the 11th century, ginger was discovered and used in pastries, bread, ginger cakes and cookies. . Gingerbread spread throughout Western Europe during this period (Gingerbread house, n.d.). Additionally, the Crusaders were returning from wars in the Eastern Mediterranean which made gingerbread a delicacy. They fashioned gingerbread as a talisman so soldiers could carry it into battle and was also used as protection against evil spirits. In the 13th century, gingerbread was fashioned into various forms by monks in Franconia, Germany. Also in the 13th century, Swedish nuns prepared gingerbread to relieve their indigestion in 1444. In the 17th century, for weddings, people used gingerbread as a gift or token of love. During this period, gingerbread was k...... middle of paper ......k/gingerbread/gingerbread_history.htmHistory of Gingerbread.(nd) Retrieved from http://www.santacla. us/gingerbread/Japlon, V. (2012). Trace the origins of the gingerbread house. Wilton Blog: Ideas from Wilton. Retrieved from http://www.wilton.com/blog/index.php/tracing-the-origins-of-the-gingerbread-house/ Rotkovitz. M. (nd). Traditional Christmas culinary specialties. Retrieved from http://gourmetfood.about.com. Rolek. B. (nd). The story of gingerbread who started eating gingerbread first. Retrieved from http://easterneuropeanfood.about.comUltimate Gingerbread. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.gingerbread.ultimategingerbread.com History of the Gingerbread Man (nd). Retrieved from http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/gingerbread/history.htmlSweet Competition (2014) Retrieved from http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/sweet-competition-94568.html