圣诞饼干和姜饼小人儿究竟是怎么来的？_公共英语阅读理解

圣诞饼干和姜饼小人儿究竟是怎么来的？

Like many Christmas traditions, the origin of this delicious custom lies ages ago, in solstice rituals conducted long before Christmas became the huge commercial holiday it is today. Winter solstice festivals have been held for eons, across the world. Celebrations revolved around food.

像许多圣诞节传统一样，这道好吃的传统美食也有好多年历史了，早在圣诞节变成现在这种商业节日之前好久，姜饼就已经是冬至仪式的一部分了。人类庆祝冬至日已经有几千年的历史的，而食物一直是庆祝活动的中心。

By the Middle Ages, the Christmas holiday had overtaken solstice rituals throughout much of present-day Europe. However, the old feast traditions remained. The pastry world was experiencing some amazing changes. Spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper were just starting to be widely used, and dried exotic fruits like citron, apricots and dates added sweetness and texture to the dessert tray.

到中世纪，今天欧洲的大部分地区已经用圣诞节取代了冬至，然而旧的筵席传统却保留了下来。不过，面点做法发生了巨大变化。像肉豆蔻、肉桂和黑胡椒这样的香辛料开始被广泛应用，像香橼、杏和大枣这样的热带果干则为甜点增添了甜度和质地。

圣诞饼干和姜饼小人儿究竟是怎么来的？1

These items, along with ingredients like sugar, lard and butter, would have been prized as expensive delicacies by medieval cooks. Only on the most important holiday could families afford treats like these. And unlike pies or cakes, cookies could be easily shared and given to friends and neighbors.