It's a Gingerbread Christmas at Mt. Prospect museum

Celebrate a "Gingerbread Christmas" when the Mount Prospect Historical Society holds its second annual holiday open house from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Dietrich Friedrichs House Museum, 101 S. Maple St.

"Gingerbread houses have been a part of holiday traditions in Germany, Poland and Russia since the Middle Ages," said Michele Runde, society board member and member of its Living History Committee. "The definition of gingerbread is a cake or cookie made with molasses and ginger."

The museum house will be decorated with a gingerbread theme using ornaments provided by local Scout troops, elementary school students and the Mount Prospect Garden Club.

In the kitchen, Mount Prospect resident Linda Korn will be playing the part of "Oma Korn," a family friend who has stepped in to help get the holiday treats ready for the holidays. She will have gingerbread to taste. In the education center, children can decorate a gingerbread man to bring home.

In addition, local Scout troops and others are being solicited to provide handmade gingerbread houses for the museum's Gingerbread House decorating contest. Open house visitors will be invited to vote for the "most historic" and "most creative" homes on display in the museum's education center that day. The winning groups will each receive a bakery treat at a winter troop meeting. For more information, call (847) 392-9006.

Open House admission is free but the society suggests a $5 donation per family/friend group attending. The donated funds will benefit the ongoing restoration project of the 1896 Central School located on the museum campus.