It’s finally December, and with all the holiday music and winter chills coming around, KSM is ready to get into the spirit of Christmas. With Christmas comes the cookies, the candy canes, the smell of pine trees, and of course, the gingerbread house.

The tradition of the gingerbread house started centuries ago in Europe. Gingerbread was baked in a few different waysm — soft, like a spiced cake, crisp, like a cookie, and sometimes, actual bread.

The most common way to eat the gingerbread was in its cookie form. Europeans would cut it into shapes and decorate it with different colors or white sugar.

Gingerbread was modernized later in the nineteenth century when the Grimm brothers wrote about Hansel and Gretel. The book, about two children who come across a house made of bread and candies, popularized the practice.

Since then, people everywhere have taken their artistic talents to the next level to create amazing, amusing, and delicious houses.

To celebrate Christmas, the Associated Students of Kamehameha Schools Maui is sponsoring a gingerbread house contest.

Participants may buy a pre-made gingerbread house kit or make their house from scratch. Students should bring their completed houses to Mrs. Ashman’s room by 3:30 p.m. on Monday, December 16.

There are no limits on the shape, size, toppings, or decorations.

The houses will be on display in the cafeteria during lunch on Tuesday, December 17.

Judging will be based on originality and presentation; the more creative the better!

Winners will be announced during lunch on Wednesday, December 18.

The prizes are:

1^st Place – $20 Genki Sushi gift card and 2 movie tickets
2^nd Place – $15 Genki Sushi gift card, 1 movie ticket
3^rd Place – $10 Genki Sushi gift card