What we learned from
ISI Christmas Cookie Baking Party & Talk Time 2022
about the history of
The Global Spice Trade
Baking to you! but first, a QUIZ (answer at bottom: 1. What is the #1 most Traditional type of Christmas cookie? 2. What famous leader invented “Gingerbread Men” To prep for ISI Cookie Baking Party last Sunday, our ISI zoom Talk Time Saturday discussed the Medieval origins of Christmas Cookie baking and WHY spice cookies are so intrinsic to our Christmas traditions. In Medieval Europe, spices were NEW, powerful, and VERY expensive (and still pricey --$10 for a little bottle of ground cloves at Safeway! Really!?!) So cooks saved such precious spices for their biggest annual feast day -- the darkest night of the year, winter solstice. Most cold weather cultures worldwide also feasted at that time of year, after harvest and before hibernating to survive winter. It was optimal time for slaughtering animals to stay preserved in the cold weather. Drinks brewed in springtime were now ready to be drunk. So along with meat and ale, sweet desserts completed the feast. Creativity sparked with yummy new spices and plenty of indoor time for artistic cookie decorating. Hence the splendid creativity of Christmas Cookie Baking! But in addition to wonderful food, the spice trade also rendered empire-building fortunes for spice merchants. Whether by sailing ship, camel, or caravan, spices were easy to transport. Dry, lightweight, compact spices gave merchants big profit per pound. Spices bring big satisfaction for buyers too. A mere pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves infused holiday flavors remembered fondly for a lifetime, both medieval and today. Likewise, our international students at UCSC also pack a BIG wallop per pound! Specially chosen by our elite university for their high-level talents and success, they have high impact in the world. UCSC is annually ranked among the top research-influential public universities in the world (measured by UCSC research publications being quoted by academic publications.) ISI mixes a gentle “vanilla” of Christian friendship, with their pungent spice -- whether computer science, marine biology, or astrophysics, into our “cookie dough” of ISI Santa Cruz, bake to golden brown with fun ISI events, then our internationals share the flavor of Christ’s aromatic goodness to the world. Thank you for supporting our global “spice trade” ministry with your prayers, time and financial support. 
The Medieval History
of the Christmas Cookie First here is a TREASURE TROVE of Christmas Cookie recipes with great photos. (We baked the easy Christmas Wreath cookies , Gingerbread, and Greek Butter cookies Click to View The Medieval History of the Christmas Cookie The origin of this delicious custom can be traced back centuries. More Christmas cookie history, including Christian tradition including one kind of cookie in particular specifically designed to honor the birth of Jesus Christ. Click to view ISI Cookie Baking Party Dec 18, 2022 on YouTube (unlisted) Or if that doesn’t work, Click to view ISI Cookie Baking Party on Google Drive Click to learn more about the history of the worldwide Spice Trade QUIZ ANSWERS:
1. What is the #1 most Traditional type of Christmas cookie? -- Gingerbread spice cookies 2. What famous leader invented “Gingerbread Men” -- Queen Elizabeth 1, who had bakers make them in likenesses of her favorite courtiers. View info in The Medieval History of the Christmas Cookie |
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