Creative tradition kept alive after villa move

You can’t help but look across Jane Anderson’s array of candies and mini “gingerbread” houses with childlike wonder. She has nearly every candy you can think of, organized for a festive afternoon of decorating mini-houses made of graham crackers.  

Jane brought the fun 25-year tradition to her villa when she moved back to her home state in 2021, after 33 years in Illinois. 

“It began with six ladies that we taught school with and it grew to inviting little kids and then their moms and grandmas. From there, it became family night where moms and dads and kids came,” Jane explains.  

A favorite creation over the years was a replica of her kitchen, complete with a stovetop and a tiny gingerbread house sitting on the counter.  Her sister once created a village, including a car out of licorice; and on another occasion, a cousin used blueprints to create a graham cracker cathedral, complete with flying buttresses. 

“It’s the start of Christmas and that’s really what it means to me,” says Jane. 

Now Jane’s new neighbors get to take part. In just its second year here, the tradition already feels firmly established on Lemongrass Drive as a time to socialize with friends and create something special for the season.

Jane shows her guests all the treats they can put on their “gingerbread” houses.

Guests are busy decorating their “gingerbread” houses made of graham crackers.