Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway has setup Ginger Bread House and huge Christmas Tree for festive season.  The hotel setup a gala event and unveiled both to public.  If we rewind back the time, this custom was probably become more popular among house-holds and churches leading to Christmas.  But it is wonderful to see big hotels like Sheraton taking it up to make it more fun.  I attended the ceremony and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Ginger Breads House

A gingerbread house is made of cookie dough, cut and baked into the appropriate shapes with which to build it. It is believed gingerbread was first baked in Europe at the end of the 11th century, when returning crusaders brought back the custom of spicy bread from the Middle East.

The ginger bread castle made at Sheraton has taken nearly a week to build.  During my discussion, I came to know it took a lot planning before the entire structure was erected.  The first phase was the design of the house, followed by making a wooden structure.  Post this activity, they engaged the bakers to bake the ginger-bread which were then struck to the wooden boards.  Later they added the icing across the edges and between the bread loafs giving it a brick-wall look.  They also had roof covered in slices of bread and sugar ball to give the snow effect.

Outside of Ginger bread had multiple marshmallows, candies and decorative items that were struck.  Inside there are plenty of shelves that had giftable items like – Plum cake, Candies, Lollipop, Soft toys and many other items for sale. 

There was a smaller Ginger Bread House that had ‘Letter to Santa’ in which kids would write their wishes and put it inside.  Apart from this the hotel also setup tables for kids who wanted to do their own Ginger Bread Houses.

This surely is one of the biggest Ginger Bread Houses I have seen this year (2017) leading upto Christmas.

Christmas Tree Lighting

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree.

Sheraton has setup a huge Christmas tree at the entrance.  It is very well decorated with small gifts boxes, jingles, candies and many goodies below the tree.  Beautiful blue lighting that has been put all around the tree.  As part of the event, they switched it on and I believe it will be on during the entire month.

Carols and Santa

Christmas celebration is never complete without singing carols.  There was a small group of carol singers, who entertained the audience by singing the traditional Christmas carols.

Santa is the most important reason why children love the Christmas festival.  Children are made to believe that Santa would be riding on a Sledge and bring them gifts on the Christmas morning.  There was a Santa during the event who entertained the children and gave gifts to many kids.

The hotel had also setup sledge with cut-out of rain-deer(s) which usually drive the sledge.  Entire setup was looking very beautiful.

Overall Experience

It was a fun evening spent at the Sheraton along with friends and family.  Thanks to Sheraton for making such beautiful Ginger Bread and Christmas Tree.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingerbread_house

http://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees