Starting from just a cardboard box, students built gingerbread houses that told the story of the fairytales of their choice, using Twizzlers and Gumdrop cobblestones to pave the way to gingerbread walls and sugar windows. Gummy bear people surrounded the premises, wearing fruit strip capes. 

“You lick, and you build, you lick and taste; it’s messy but fun,” German teacher Desiree Reynolds said.

The German Department held its annual Gingerbread House making contest Dec. 12 in the Gold Cafeteria. The German Department has held this contest for over 15 years. This year, the contest has a theme for the first time.  The theme was Brothers Grimm, German writers of fairytales such as “Hansel and Gretel” and “Sleeping Beauty.” The fairytales the gingerbread houses most frequently depicted were “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Hansel and Gretel.”  The theme was thought up because German students were studying fairy tales in class. The addition of a new theme created structure and was a success German teacher Emily Massey hopes will continue for years to come.

“In the past, it was hodgepodge, kids didn’t know what to do,” Massey said.

German students can invite students not taking German to participate with them in the contest as long as they are a team of three to six individuals. This year, 57 people and 12 teams participated.

“The best thing is it gives kids a chance to be with friends, and is a reliever of stress about school,” German teacher Desiree Reynolds said.

Group 10, the winner, consisted of a team of four team members: seniors Hannah Bunting, Darry Sampson, Carys Meyer, and Katie Kuzin.   

Dec. 12, frosting flew, people laughed and victors were crowned. This contest kicked off the holiday season in a fun and exciting way.