Dear Crafters and Culinary Artists: Gingerbread is a millennia-old European tradition. Ginger originated in Indo-Malaysia, where Greek travelers purchased the spice introduced it to Europe nearly four thousand years ago. It soon became an integral flavoring for a variety of recipes. Later, shaped ginger cakes were meant to symbolize different emotions and provide good luck. Queen Elizabeth I once held a banquet at which she served gingerbread people meant to look like her guests. The first gingerbread houses came from Germany and were featured in fairytales like Hansel and Gretel. They eventually became the Christmas tradition we know and love today.