Gingerbread was brought to Europe in 992 by theArmenianmonk Gregory of Nicopolis (Gregory Makar) (Grégoire de Nicopolis). He left Nicopolis Pompeii, to live inBondaroy(France), near the town ofPithiviers. He stayed there for seven years, and taught gingerbread baking to French Christians. He died in 999.[2][3][4]

During the 13th century, gingerbread was brought toSwedenby German immigrants. In 15th century Germany, a gingerbread guild controlled production.[5]Early references from theVadstena Abbeyshow how the Swedishnunswere baking gingerbread to ease indigestion in 1444.[6]It was the custom to bake white biscuits and paint them aswindowdecorations.

The first documented trade of gingerbread biscuits dates to the 17th century,[citation needed]where they were sold in monasteries, pharmacies and town square farmers' markets. In Medieval England gingerbread was thought to have medicinal properties.[7]One hundred years later the town ofMarket Draytonin Shropshire, UK became known for its gingerbread, as is proudly displayed on their town's welcome sign. The first recorded mention of gingerbread being baked in the town dates back to 1793; however, it was probably made earlier, as ginger was stocked inhigh streetbusinesses from the 1640s. Gingerbread became widely available in the 18th century.