To make the many candles they needed in the monasteries, the brothers cultivated fruit trees and kept bees for the wax. By spreading the dough, made with honey, on wafers, they produced a nourishing and healthy food. It served well on journeys and was brought to the infirm and the sick. The most famous among the monasteries at that time were Einsiedeln and St. Gallen in Switzerland. It is from Einsiedeln that Indiana's St. Meinrad Archabbey was founded and the brothers may have been among those who brought the Gingerbread recipe with them to southern Indiana.

Gingerbread soon became a favorite outside the monasteries. Toward the end of the Middle Ages, Nuremberg was an important international trade center; so there was no shortage of the required raw materials needed for the ever more popular gingerbread, e.g. candied fruits, hazelnuts and spices. Honey, also indispensable, was obtained from the "Reichswald," a huge forest, circling the town. The "Lebküchner," producers of spiced honey cookies, began to organize their own guild of "Wachszieher und Lebzelter" (candlemaker and gingerbread baker). They made beautiful decorated candles and many varieties of gingerbread known as "Honigkuchen, Pfefferkuchen, Lebkuchen, Pfefferzelten, Lebzelten," and "Pfeffernüsse." Thus Nuremberg became the famous "Lebkuchen" (gingerbread) town as their gingerbread found fanciers all over Europe.

There are many regional variations. In Austria and Bavaria they are called "Zelten," a Germanic word that means "flat cake." Achener specialities are Mandel-Lebkuchen (smaller than those from Nuremberg, and then there are Nuss-Saftprinten, Mandel- Printen, Honig-Saftprinten, Saftprinten, Dominosteine, Nuss- Spitzkuchen, Dessert-Spitzkuchen, called Spitzkuchen because they have three corners (Spitzen).

Gingerbread hearts are offered year round at German fairs and festivals. Hung with a string around ones neck they declare "I Love You" or something such. To this day "Lebkuchen" are exported from Nuremberg to the U.S. especially for the Christmas Season. The taste for them has spread beyond persons of German origin. This is also true for many other baked German goods.

Ruth Reichmann
Max Kade German-American Center
Indiana Univ.-Purdue Univ. Indianapolis

The following Lebkuchen/Gingerbread recipe is by Betty Kuebler- McGlothlin of Brown County:
Ingredients:

4 eggs 2 cups sugar 2/3 cup honey 1 1/2 cups almonds cut in strips 4 1/2 cups flour 1/2 teasp. soda

1/2 " salt 1 " cinnamon 1 " cloves 1/2 " allspice 1 cup diced mixed candied fruit. Frosting: powdered sugar and evaporated milk

Beat eggs. Add sugar, honey, almonds, and mixed candied fruit. Add flour mixed with soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Spread on greased cookie sheets, on large and one small. Spread by dipping your hand into flour and pressing towards the edges of the cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. When almost cold, ice with powdered sugar icing and sprinkle with colored sugar. When cold, cut in small pieces about 2 - 1 1/2 inches. Store in air-tight container in cool place.

A GINGERBREAD CHRISTMAS AT CONNER PRAIRIE

The gingerbread house, immortalized in the Grimm's fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel and popularized in Engelbert Humperdink's Christmas Opera of the same name, has become a favorite of Indiana children and adults alike. They are a part of the holiday season and competitions abound. At the St. Nikolaus Party in Indianapolis at the Athenaeum, children build Gingerbread Houses. On a much grander scale, each year a "Festival of Gingerbread Houses" is held at Conner Prairie where the best receive a prize.

The visitor to Conner Prairie during the two weekends before Christmas can enjoy Indianapolis' finest competition and display of up to 100 hand-constructed and edible gingerbread houses made by individuals, culinary professionals, families, schoolgroups, scouts, companies, groups and celebrities. You will find the home of the witch transformed into castles and abodes as the Hoosier imagination has free play and takes its liberties with the old world tradition.

A wide array of other holiday festivities is offered at Conner Prairie during the two special weekends. The Featherston Barn features a "Gingerbread Marionette Show." In the Pioneer Adventure Area you can meet Belznickel, pop popcorn over a fire, dip candles and make gifts for the holidays while the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread surrounds you. Enjoy gingerbread, hot cocoa and coffee in Clowes Common, courtesy of Marsh.

With the assistance of Indy Runners, Conner Prairie sponsors "The Gingerbread 5K," a 5K run/walk through the grounds. Participants receive a long-sleeved tee shirt or sweatshirt, discounted admission to "A Gingerbread Christmas" and other give-aways.

Ruth Reichmann

FURTHER RESOURCES