Gingerbread cookies are an inseparable part of Finnish Christmas, but few people know the hidden messages of their shapes. The shapes of the gingerbread have not been chosen by chance, but historically different meanings have been attached to them, says Leipätietotus ry in its press release. For example, the traditional gingerbread shoe was originally an erotic symbol. The hare, on the other hand, has served as a metaphor for fertility and the pig as a bringer of happiness and prosperity. The history of gingerbread dates back to medieval Europe. At that time, spices such as ginger, cinnamon, cloves and pepper imported from distant countries were a rare luxury. Spices were considered valuable and health promoting.
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