The Gingerbread Man

 When I was a little I had this Disney record and I I played it over and over again. I would sing along with the Gingerbread Man as he ran and ran from everybody. 

I've run away from a little old woman, I’ve run away from A little old man,
I’ve run away from a pig, I’ve run away from a cow,

I’ve run away from a from a  barn full of threshers,
I’ve run away from a  field full of mowers,
And I can run away from you, I can!  

Now I don’t know if this particular gingerbread man did not want to be the old couples son or not, because he just takes off running, maybe he thought they were going to eat him. Regardless, off he goes eluding everyone and singing and singing until he meets the fox. Well I won’t ruin the end for those who haven’t read the story yet. Yes all 2 of you.

     In the 1800’s everybody was coming out with their own version. Russia, Germany, England , Scotland and even America. In Russia it was a Kolbok (ball of dough) in Germany, it was a big fat pancake. They must have really loved the idea because several different versions were published from the mid century to 1900.

    In England it was a rolling Johnny-cake, in Scotland it was a bannock, which I’m pretty sure is a biscuit.

     My favorite thing about this whole runaway food genre is that people have been very creative with it and tell a tale based on their food and their culture. It keeps a simple story fresh and alive as it is passed down from gereration to generaton.

    Some of our more contemporary versions include as Eric Kimmel's The Runaway Tortilla (2000). A Hannukah version called The Runaway Latkes (2000) by Leslie Kimmelman. And  Chang Compestine's Chinese New Year tale, The Runaway Rice Cake (2001)

   Those all sound hilarious! But I think for my next food related read I’m going to choose the Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett.