Gingerbread Cookies

A gingerbread cookie is a biscuit or cookie made of gingerbread, usually in the shape of a stylized human, commonly male, although making other shapes, especially seasonal themes and characters, is quite common as well.

History
Gingerbread dates back to the 15th century, and figural biscuit-making was practiced in the 16th century. The first documented instance of figure-shaped gingerbread biscuits appearing was in the court of Elizabeth I of England. She had the gingerbread figures made and presented in the likeness of some of her important guests.

Characteristics
Most gingerbread men share the same roughly humanoid shape, with stubby feet and no fingers. Many gingerbread men have a face, though whether the features are indentations within the face itself or other candies stuck on with icing or chocolate varies from recipe to recipe. Other decorations are common; hair, shirt cuffs, and shoes are sometimes applied, but by far the most popular decoration are shirt buttons, which are traditionally represented by gum drops, icing, or raisins.

In world records
According to the 2009 Guinness Book of Records, the world’s largest gingerbread man was made on December 2, 2006 by the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce in Smithville, Texas, United States at their annual Festival of Lights celebration. The gingerbread man weighed in at 1,308 lbs, 8 oz, and stood at over 20 feet. On December 6, 2008, also in conjunction with the annual Festival of Lights celebration, a monument was dedicated in honor of the feat made from the very cookie sheet that was used to break the record.

Recently Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A. had a potential record-setting Gingerbread man put on display. The Dane County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) unveiled the world's largest gingerbread man. It stood 26 feet and 2 inches tall, although its weight is unknown.

In fiction and pop culture

 * The Gingerbread Man, a fairy tale about a living gingerbread man that gets devoured by a Fox.
 * Gingy is a talking gingerbread man character in the Shrek series of movies. He is derived from the children's story The Gingerbread Man.
 * "Sweet Gingerbread Man" was a 1971 popular song first heard in the film The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart, performed by the Mike Curb Congregation, with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Marilyn and Alan Bergman.
 * The Gingerbread Man, a 1998 film directed by Robert Altman and starring Kenneth Branagh, Robert Downey Jr and Robert Duvall.
 * Gingerbread Man, a 1994 album by the avant-garde music group The Residents.