The chewable houses of our readers

Real estate has gone up in flames and housing has become more and more expensive. But there is a masonry tradition that ignores land upheavals, while remaining dear to the hearts of Quebec families: the construction of gingerbread houses. Real doors open to the imagination, they can harbor all kinds of stories and ideas. Here are those of our inspired readers.

Competition log cabin

Here’s one, a competitive gingerbread house! Because it is precisely within the framework of a competition launched in their workplace that the interior designer Anik Vo-Hoang and the carpenter Jerry Chung (who work for IKEA, it is not invented!) built this two-storey log cabin. It was made by merging two gingerbread houses sold in stores, then using various ingredients: cookies, pretzels, Daims chocolates, coconut flakes, buttercream icing. “It is surrounded by beautiful fir trees, a small bridge, a well, a fountain, two functional lampposts, a beautiful ice rink to play hockey,” describes Ms.^me Vo-Hoang. The story does not say if she won the honors.

In a reduced model!

Not bad at all, this gingerbread house… but it will seem even more charming when you know that it is a replica of Marie-Christine Déry’s family home! All in lights and details (note the signs of the intersection of the streets, as well as the door number), it is adorned with a roof in cereals and decorations in mints and candy canes. On the chimney, we can see Santa Claus greeting everyone before slipping into the flue. The gourmet little work of art was made by the godfather of Mrs.^me Dery.

Give us our daily gingerbread

Very inspiring and original, this church to devour erected by Lynn Jezabel Wessel, a native of Sainte-Adèle. It was inspired by the model of European chapels, but added a local touch, with a rounded stained glass window on the facade modeled on that of one of the churches of Sainte-Adèle (probably Saint-Norbert).

It is completely edible – the stained glass is made of isomalt (edible sugar) and the gingerbread base has been glued with royal icing. Amen!

The famous inner beauty

Driving for Christmas, with the Rode family! “Over the years, we adapt our creations to the desires and interests of our children. Our oldest has been passionate about trains since he could speak! He always asks us for a train station, and in 2020 he wanted us to add a freight ship to it. In 2021, we wanted to make a train station with a more traditional appearance, a bit like a large European station, complete with colored stained glass,” explains Alexandra Fraser, a member of the family.

Welcome to the village

Traditionally, Christmas gourmands pull up the walls of a single house and put the (candy) packet on it. But others instead embark on the construction of small dining villages, such as Johanne Bergeron, who bet on white, red and green to enhance the holiday atmosphere. In Monique Lethiecq’s family, it’s even a family tradition to which the children dedicate themselves each year, building everything from A to Z. “There is no judgment, the children experiment, share, laugh, feel, taste and sing! “, marvels M^me Lethiecq.

Solo projects that do good

This charming activity lends itself perfectly to the family confection, but can just as well be carried out solo. In these photos, we can appreciate the creativity of Camille Couineau, who gave herself three days to set up her sugar-heated winter chalet, and that of Élisabeth Perreault-Corbeil, with colored stained glass windows, shutters and licorice planters. and a graham cracker door – “A perfect project for surviving a busy end of university term!” “, she confides.

As for Marie-Claude Perron, she considers that the success or otherwise of her classic houses is indicative of the tone of the year to come. “I only missed them once: the last Christmas before the pandemic. Since that time, I claim that they are a harbinger of the next year,” she says.

Full-scale

“Our gingerbread house is not edible, but it is adorable,” warn Alain Lépine and Sylvie Dupuy, from Laval. Indeed, by means of beautiful decorations and lights, their shed is transformed for the winter into a house worthy of Hansel and Gretel, witch not included. “A little paint on reclaimed pieces of wood, a few lights, a little imagination and you can create some Christmas magic,” says the couple, whose guests are always delighted to discover this gingerbread house larger than life.

The children’s corner

Here are some of the achievements built by children, with or without the help of their loved ones and parents.