If there was such a thing as a Great Liturgical Baking Show (like the Great British Baking Show), I bet Thomasmas Medieval gingerbread would win biscuit week. 🙌😂 What a lovely idea, ties in both the season and his role of architect so beautifully. Going to add to my Advent baking list!
Most of the year, the bread I bake is made with white bread flour, or a mix of white and sprouted whole wheat–just flour, water, salt, and wild yeast. It's usually light and airy with an open crumb and a light caramel crust. As the days grow shorter, however, the bread I bake also get's darker–more whole wheat, or rye. Just before Christmas, I will be removing the water and adding buttermilk and stout beer. I'll add some brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. When the loaf is ready to shape, I will fold in dried cranberries and pecans and a few chocolate chips. It has always just felt right, felt better and more appropriate, to bake and enjoy this kind of bread during this time of the year. How delightful it was to read this article and learn that my propensity toward a darker, sweeter, and fruitier bread comes from a long tradition that is interwoven into the church calendar! What a wonderful read this was, one that I will come back to over the next couple of weeks.
As for gingerbread houses, I think the idea of purposely making it a house that lays down is a great idea, especially for me, because that is where the pieces of my gingerbread house always end up anyway. :-)
Also, I am thinking of getting these house cake molds. Plus, the book looks adorable. https://www.thetomtecake.com
Jason, you're a bread-baking hero! That sounds incredible - and I absolutely love the way your bread reflects the changing of the seasons. The story of the calendar, as told through bread, is something we're so often removed from in our age of convenience!
Thanks so much for sharing...and haha yes, I agree - my gingerbread houses just end up all fallen down anyway, too 😂
The Tomte Cake mold & book look INCREDIBLE. We have a few Tomten books here that are favorite reads! I'll have to order one of these!
I'd never even heard of Thomasmas before, thank you for sharing Kristen, it was so interesting to read. I love gingerbread but I'm more on the ginger cake spectrum. I've mentioned to you that my Gramma Doris was a WWII Australian Army cook and she would regularly bake her eggless 'ration recipe' ginger cake. It is so moist and fragrant, I use it for my Yule log cake in my July Yuletide celebrations (that's the middle of winter in Australia), for my children's 'Kagemand' (Cake Man) birthday cakes, and as a bundt cake with Australian bush spices added for Christmas Eve (with leftovers for our Christmas lunch trifle). I wish you all the comfort and warmth of the season from the heat of Summer in Australia.
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading! Of course the seasonal things end up being backwards to your experience, but I'd be fascinated to know more about what Thomasmas looked like in Australia, if it was celebrated there.
The bush spices added to the bundt cake - are those the ones you talked about in your recent post? I'm learning SO much from you!
Thank you for the warm wishes...and likewise, wishing you all the comfort *of cool weather* during your hot spell, though! :)
I'll chat to some Catholic friends and see if they celebrate Thomasmas, and what that entails then I'll let you know. Yes, the spices are the same. I love learning from you too!
Another Aussie here, from warm Shellharbour, by the ocean. I had not heard of this feast either, although I know I have been at Mass mid year and known it was his feast - I am Catholic. The information about him in India is fascinating. I really liked being able to go to your various resources and links to read on. I love information like this, so thank you Kristin. My granddaughter would have rolled her dough in sugar too. YUM!
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading! And how wonderful to have a few lovely Aussie's connecting here - I'd highly recommend Geneviève's posts on Christmas...I'm guessing you'd find so much of it familiar and comforting!
I love reading about the important role food played in medieval celebrations; while the extent of my gingerbread-making this winter will probably be a few Christmas tree-shaped cookies I will bookmark the stencil for future years! I am curious, from one medievalist to another, if you find information about these kinds of celebrations primarily in academic literature or otherwise. I have so often found it a barrier to general appreciation of the middle ages that some of these fascinating -and relatable -traditions are buried in dense tomes or behind an academic journal's paywall.
I'm so glad you enjoyed! (Did you happen to see the gingerbread version of the Met Cloisters?! I still stand firmly by a flat-lay, since it's more my speed...but WOW!)
I'm right there with you...the role of food in medieval festivity tells such a remarkable story. But you're right: there are just so many barriers! I haven't lept at any of the academic paywalls (I miss my old JSTOR access, ahhh)...so that makes it tough, which is especially a shame in terms of just shifting the general conception of medieval food & celebration. It remains shrouded in mystery, unless one really digs deep! The general breadcrumb trails I follow come from quotes of Victorian sources that are, themselves, discussing older traditions...though tracing them back earlier than the Elizabethan era is hard. Lady Fettiplace's journal is helpful for that period, but earlier gets tough! The Google Books advanced search has helped me sleuth primary sources from what I find in modern books about calendars, etc., but, again, those primary sources are often 18th or 19th century (maybe the Romantic poets' interest in Medieval goodness & revival of older traditions accounts in part for that).
I've leaned heavily on our local medieval living history museum (Camlann); they've been a huge help, between the cookbook they published, their resource library, workshops, and schedule of feasts: https://www.camlann.org/
I love this! I've never heard of this St. Thomas's story. I live the idea of Thomasmas and the boundary that sets before Christmas. I think this would be a good tradition to start!
I don’t like the gingerbread building sets, but I’d probably enjoy medieval ginger bread. I’m thinking it would be fun to go out and buy all the beverages for Christmas on St. Thomas Day in tribute to him!
This was so enjoyable to read! I love St Thomas, so it was beautiful to see that there was a Thomasmas! Thank you for bringing that Medieval stirring in my heart.
Thanks so much for reading, I'm thrilled you enjoyed it! St Thomas is a favorite of mine, so it's been a real joy to get to dig deeper into all-things-Thomasmas. I'm always happy to oblige with the stirring of Medieval goodness in hearts. :)
What Emma said below! Where am I on the gingerbread spectrum? I'm hungry looking at these photos :-) that's where I am.
Fun fact about THomas (maybe you know this). We opened our MIL apt to a young gal for about 18 mos a couple of years ago. Her family is from Kerala, India and they are all Christians.
Kerala was one of the places it is reported that Thomas showed up to baptize early Chrisitians there in approximately 52 AD. It has remained a mostly Christian area in India all these centuries later.
I love the photos of little hands kneading gingerbread balls, and the fact that you included, and MADE and photographed, a medieval gingerbread recipe!!! (It looks delicious and very aromatic!)
*googles met cloisters gingerbread*. That’s so wild how the various Victorian dilettante interests in the past can contribute to an overall understanding of the Middle Ages! And, we’ll, I’m quite jealous you have a medieval living history museum near you! I’ve never been to such a thing, even in Europe!
If there was such a thing as a Great Liturgical Baking Show (like the Great British Baking Show), I bet Thomasmas Medieval gingerbread would win biscuit week. 🙌😂 What a lovely idea, ties in both the season and his role of architect so beautifully. Going to add to my Advent baking list!
I'm so glad you enjoyed! And 😂😂😂 AHHH if only there were a Great Liturgical Baking Show! It's right up my esoteric alley!
Most of the year, the bread I bake is made with white bread flour, or a mix of white and sprouted whole wheat–just flour, water, salt, and wild yeast. It's usually light and airy with an open crumb and a light caramel crust. As the days grow shorter, however, the bread I bake also get's darker–more whole wheat, or rye. Just before Christmas, I will be removing the water and adding buttermilk and stout beer. I'll add some brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. When the loaf is ready to shape, I will fold in dried cranberries and pecans and a few chocolate chips. It has always just felt right, felt better and more appropriate, to bake and enjoy this kind of bread during this time of the year. How delightful it was to read this article and learn that my propensity toward a darker, sweeter, and fruitier bread comes from a long tradition that is interwoven into the church calendar! What a wonderful read this was, one that I will come back to over the next couple of weeks.
As for gingerbread houses, I think the idea of purposely making it a house that lays down is a great idea, especially for me, because that is where the pieces of my gingerbread house always end up anyway. :-)
Also, I am thinking of getting these house cake molds. Plus, the book looks adorable. https://www.thetomtecake.com
Jason, you're a bread-baking hero! That sounds incredible - and I absolutely love the way your bread reflects the changing of the seasons. The story of the calendar, as told through bread, is something we're so often removed from in our age of convenience!
Thanks so much for sharing...and haha yes, I agree - my gingerbread houses just end up all fallen down anyway, too 😂
The Tomte Cake mold & book look INCREDIBLE. We have a few Tomten books here that are favorite reads! I'll have to order one of these!
I'd never even heard of Thomasmas before, thank you for sharing Kristen, it was so interesting to read. I love gingerbread but I'm more on the ginger cake spectrum. I've mentioned to you that my Gramma Doris was a WWII Australian Army cook and she would regularly bake her eggless 'ration recipe' ginger cake. It is so moist and fragrant, I use it for my Yule log cake in my July Yuletide celebrations (that's the middle of winter in Australia), for my children's 'Kagemand' (Cake Man) birthday cakes, and as a bundt cake with Australian bush spices added for Christmas Eve (with leftovers for our Christmas lunch trifle). I wish you all the comfort and warmth of the season from the heat of Summer in Australia.
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading! Of course the seasonal things end up being backwards to your experience, but I'd be fascinated to know more about what Thomasmas looked like in Australia, if it was celebrated there.
The bush spices added to the bundt cake - are those the ones you talked about in your recent post? I'm learning SO much from you!
Thank you for the warm wishes...and likewise, wishing you all the comfort *of cool weather* during your hot spell, though! :)
I'll chat to some Catholic friends and see if they celebrate Thomasmas, and what that entails then I'll let you know. Yes, the spices are the same. I love learning from you too!
Another Aussie here, from warm Shellharbour, by the ocean. I had not heard of this feast either, although I know I have been at Mass mid year and known it was his feast - I am Catholic. The information about him in India is fascinating. I really liked being able to go to your various resources and links to read on. I love information like this, so thank you Kristin. My granddaughter would have rolled her dough in sugar too. YUM!
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading! And how wonderful to have a few lovely Aussie's connecting here - I'd highly recommend Geneviève's posts on Christmas...I'm guessing you'd find so much of it familiar and comforting!
Thanks Kristin :)
Lovely Shellharbour! Hello fellow Aussie :)
I love reading about the important role food played in medieval celebrations; while the extent of my gingerbread-making this winter will probably be a few Christmas tree-shaped cookies I will bookmark the stencil for future years! I am curious, from one medievalist to another, if you find information about these kinds of celebrations primarily in academic literature or otherwise. I have so often found it a barrier to general appreciation of the middle ages that some of these fascinating -and relatable -traditions are buried in dense tomes or behind an academic journal's paywall.
I'm so glad you enjoyed! (Did you happen to see the gingerbread version of the Met Cloisters?! I still stand firmly by a flat-lay, since it's more my speed...but WOW!)
I'm right there with you...the role of food in medieval festivity tells such a remarkable story. But you're right: there are just so many barriers! I haven't lept at any of the academic paywalls (I miss my old JSTOR access, ahhh)...so that makes it tough, which is especially a shame in terms of just shifting the general conception of medieval food & celebration. It remains shrouded in mystery, unless one really digs deep! The general breadcrumb trails I follow come from quotes of Victorian sources that are, themselves, discussing older traditions...though tracing them back earlier than the Elizabethan era is hard. Lady Fettiplace's journal is helpful for that period, but earlier gets tough! The Google Books advanced search has helped me sleuth primary sources from what I find in modern books about calendars, etc., but, again, those primary sources are often 18th or 19th century (maybe the Romantic poets' interest in Medieval goodness & revival of older traditions accounts in part for that).
I've leaned heavily on our local medieval living history museum (Camlann); they've been a huge help, between the cookbook they published, their resource library, workshops, and schedule of feasts: https://www.camlann.org/
I love this! I've never heard of this St. Thomas's story. I live the idea of Thomasmas and the boundary that sets before Christmas. I think this would be a good tradition to start!
Thanks Sarah! Isn't it so fascinating? Learning about these traditions & stories helps me re-frame a lot of moments even just in daily life.
I don’t like the gingerbread building sets, but I’d probably enjoy medieval ginger bread. I’m thinking it would be fun to go out and buy all the beverages for Christmas on St. Thomas Day in tribute to him!
What a great and do-able idea! I love that!
This was so enjoyable to read! I love St Thomas, so it was beautiful to see that there was a Thomasmas! Thank you for bringing that Medieval stirring in my heart.
Thanks so much for reading, I'm thrilled you enjoyed it! St Thomas is a favorite of mine, so it's been a real joy to get to dig deeper into all-things-Thomasmas. I'm always happy to oblige with the stirring of Medieval goodness in hearts. :)
What Emma said below! Where am I on the gingerbread spectrum? I'm hungry looking at these photos :-) that's where I am.
Fun fact about THomas (maybe you know this). We opened our MIL apt to a young gal for about 18 mos a couple of years ago. Her family is from Kerala, India and they are all Christians.
Kerala was one of the places it is reported that Thomas showed up to baptize early Chrisitians there in approximately 52 AD. It has remained a mostly Christian area in India all these centuries later.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-christianity-came-to-india-kerala-180958117/
Oh my goodness, I did NOT know that - but what an incredible connection! Thank you so much for the beautiful and fascinating read!
I love the photos of little hands kneading gingerbread balls, and the fact that you included, and MADE and photographed, a medieval gingerbread recipe!!! (It looks delicious and very aromatic!)
Aw, thank you so much! I'm all about the medieval cookery...our kids aren't big fans of how aromatic it is, but I love it! 😂
That gingerbread is so lovely and I loved learning more about St. Thomas!
I'm so glad you enjoyed, Jolene!
I’ve always been so fascinated with St Thomas and his work in the world. I love the idea of a flat lay gingerbread house!
St. Thomas is such a compelling figure, isn't he? And yay for flat-lay gingerbread houses! They cause much less angst for people like me. 😂
*googles met cloisters gingerbread*. That’s so wild how the various Victorian dilettante interests in the past can contribute to an overall understanding of the Middle Ages! And, we’ll, I’m quite jealous you have a medieval living history museum near you! I’ve never been to such a thing, even in Europe!
Oh dear! I'm sorry to hear that and hope you feel better soon!