The Gingerbread man has transcended time in the sense that it is still referenced quite frequently in popular culture. It is a common tradition in American house holds to make gingerbread men around Christmas time. The gingerbread man was also a character in the Shrek movies, many say that it was actually the anchor of the franchise, and without it Shrek would not have come back to star in 3 more movies, a musical, and an ice show, and Puss in boots would never have been given an opportunity to star in a spin off. The Shrek movies have also been cited as the rejuvenating force for the careers of both Mike Meyers and Eddie Murphy, so you can thank the Gingerbread man for The Love Guru and Norbit. Even today it is still spoofed in adapted in modern renditions such as the Stinky Cheese Man.