The story of this popular Christmas candy goes back all the
way to 1670 in Cologne Germany. The Cathedral choirmaster needed a remedy for
the noise caused by children during his long-winded church sermons during the
traditional Christmas Eve service. The choirmaster asked the local candy maker
for some sweet sticks to give to the children. In order to justify the practice
of giving candy to children during worship services, he asked the candy maker to
add a curve to the top of each stick, which would help children remember the
shepherds who paid visit to infant Jesus. In addition he used the white color
of the converted sticks to teach children about the Christian belief in the
sinless life of Jesus. From Germany, the candy cane spread to other parts of
Europe where they were handed out during plays reenacting the Nativity.
The
first historical reference to the candy cane being in America goes back to
1847, when a German immigrant called August Imgard decorated the Christmas tree
in his Wooster, Ohio home with candy canes.
About fifty years later the first
red-and-white striped candy canes appeared. Around the same time, candy-makers
added peppermint and wintergreen flavors to their candy canes and those flavors
then became the traditional favorites.
The candy cane is also depicted as a
symbol for Christianity the white of the candy cane represents the purity of
Jesus and his virgin birth. The bold red stripe represents God’s love. The
three fine stripes are said by some to represent the Holy Trinity: the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From its plain early beginnings to its familiar
shape and color of today, the candy cane is a symbol of Christmas and a
reminder of the meaning of the holiday.
Merry Christmas go out and eat yourself some candy canes!!!
For a new holiday tradition before packing away your stocking after christmas is over store one candy cane at the bottom, next time christmas comes around and you begin to decorate your house you will find a surprise to enjoy while decorating!!!
Sources
http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/candy_canes.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_cane
http://www.noelnoelnoel.com/trad/candycane.html
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