National Gingerbread Day
When is National Gingerbread Day? This holiday is always celebrated on June 5
When we think about gingerbread, we often think of the holidays. That’s when this spicy and flavorful treat is most popular. However, there is nothing wrong with enjoying it any time of the year. And, that’s exactly why today is National Gingerbread Day. This June 5 holiday encourages us to bake and serve up a bread with the great flavor of ginger.
The ginger plant is native to Asia, where it has been consumed as a food and used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Chinese cooking uses ginger in many ways for main meals as well as desserts and other sweets. Ginger is common in many alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, with ginger ale readily coming to mind. The first gingerbread recipe dates back to 2,400 B.C. So, people have enjoyed the spicy flavor for a very long time.
Medicinal Benefits of Ginger
Ginger contains “Gingerol”, a chemical with many proven health benefits. Here are just some of the many medicinal uses for this root:
- Use it to treat nausea and morning sickness.
- If you’ve had too much spicy food, ginger ale relieves indigestion and soothes your stomach.
- It lowers blood sugars for diabetics.
- People use it to promote weight loss.
- The anti-inflammatory properties help to fight osteoarthritis.
- Ginger can help to improve heart health and to lower your cancer risk.
- Ginger helps lower cholesterol.
- Some recent studies suggest gingerol may improve brain function and provide some protection against Alzheimer’s disease.
Ginger Trivia and Fun Facts
Use National Gingerbread Day to learn more about this wonderfully flavorful spice:
- Ginger is the rhizome (root) of the tropical plant Zingiber officinale, It is native to Southeast Asia.
- The plant is an herb.
- Ginger rhizomes are ready to harvest 10 – 12 months after planting.
- In the 1700’s, making gingerbread was exclusively the realm of professional bakers.
- Queen Elizabeth I is credited with creating the idea to make the first gingerbread man.
- Ginger helps preserve bread.
- The world’s largest gingerbread house was made in 2013 by the Traditions Club in Bryan, TX. It was 60′ long, 21′ tall, and 2,520 square feet. That’s much bigger than my house!
- According to Swedish tradition, put a piece of gingerbread in the palm of your hand. Then, break it. If it breaks into three pieces, your wish will come true.
How to Celebrate and Participate in National Gingerbread Day
Here are some ideas on how to celebrate National Gingerbread Day:
- Support your local bakery. Buy a fresh-made gingerbread.
- Make it yourself at home.
- Make a gingerbread man or house….or both!
- Bring a loaf or two to work to share with your co-workers.
- Give a homemade loaf to a neighbor or friend. It will brighten their day.
- Try ginger in other foods.
- Post pictures of the gingerbread you bake on social media.
- Read the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Hansel and Gretel.
Today's Quote
“If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.” – – Muhammad Ali
History and Origin of National Gingerbread Day
Our research has not yet discovered the creator of this day or the reason why it was created. However, it is obvious the originator is a fan of gingerbread.
While gingerbread as been around or thousands of years, National Gingerbread Day is much more recent. The earliest reference we found to this tasty food holiday is 2012.
We did not find a congressional or presidential proclamation making this day a true national day.
Definition of “National” Days – Learn why it is important to distinguish true national days.
This Day in History
Here are some things that happened on this day:
- Harriet Beecher Stoewe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is published. (1861)
- The assassination of Bobby Kennedy occurs while on the campaign trail running for president. (1968)
- Francisco “Pancho” Villa, Mexican revolutionary was born on this day in 1878.
Related Holidays
Additionally, people who like National Gingerbread Day will also like:
More June 5 Holidays
In addition to National Gingerbread Day, here are more June 5 holidays for you to enjoy:
More About Today
Flower of the Day: Texas Bluebonnet
Recipe of the Day: Gingerbread
Learn more about the “goings on” on this date.
This Day in History – Indeed, many other important events occurred on this date in June. See what happened on this date in history.
Famous June Birthdays – Did you ever wonder what famous people share your birth date? If so, then find out now!
Ecards – Send a free Ecard daily for National Gingerbread Day or just about any calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Undoubtedly, it’s fun for both the sender and the recipient.
Holiday Insights, where every day in June is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? Besides National Gingerbread Day, there are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. What’s more, many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. June holidays are no exception. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.