The food holiday on December 12 recognizes a favorite family activity this time of year — making a gingerbread house. Made famous (or infamous) by the Brothers' Grimm and their tale of Hansel and Gretel because is was a house mail or gingerbread that lured the children to an evil witch’s lair. German gingerbread guilds and bakers have been making decorative cottages from the spicy-sweet treat since the Middle Ages.