There are many legends surrounding the candy cane that is such a familiar part of the Christmas Season.
When the practice of using Christmas trees to celebrate the Nativity became popular in Europe, people began making decorations for their trees. Many of the decorations were food items including cookies and candy. The predecessor of our modern candy cane appeared at about this time in the 17th Century. These were straight, white sticks of sugar candy.
Part of the Christmas celebration at the Cologne Cathedral were pageants of living creches.
Around 1670, the Choirmaster there had sticks of candy bent into the shape of a shepherd’s crook and passed them out to children who attended the ceremonies. This became a popular tradition, and eventually the practice of passing out the sugar canes at living creche ceremonies spread throughout Europe.
The use of candy canes on Christmas trees made its way to America by the 1800’s; however during this time, they were still pure white. They are represented this way on Christmas cards made before 1900, and it is not until the early 20th century that they appear with their familiar red stripes.
Many people have given religious meaning to the shape and form of the candy cane. It is said that its shape is like the letter “J” in Jesus’ name. It is also in the shape of the shepherds’ crook, symbolic of how Jesus, like the “Good Shepherd” watches over his children like little lambs. It is a hard candy, solid like a “rock”, the foundation of the Church. The flavor of peppermint is similar to another member of the mint family, hyssop. In the Old Testament hyssop was used for purification and sacrifice, and this is said to symbolize the purity of Jesus and the sacrifice He made.
Some say the white of the candy cane represents the purity of Jesus and his Virgin Birth. The red color represents the Blood Christ shed on the Cross. The three fine stripes surrounding the single bold stripe are said by some to represent the Holy Trinity: Three Persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) in One God.
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.
How wonderful is it that the simple candy cane carries with it such powerful lessons of faith? May those lessons never be forgotten.
A Blessed and Merry Christmas! God bless you!
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