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Candy Canes: The Urban Legend of Christmas

Article:
Over 1.76 billion candy canes are manufactured each year, each one oblivious to the controversy swirling around it.

The truth is that there are few proven facts about the history of the candy cane. We know that the simple white sugar stick has been around since time eternal - or at least as long as candy has been made - but the facts surrounding the reason for the distinctive shape and color are widely disputed.

It seems that most 'candy cane experts' agree that the hooked shape of the candy originated in 1670 at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. Prior to this, pure white candy sticks were used to decorate Christmas trees until a quick-thinking choirmaster came up with a brilliant plan to keep children quiet during the long-winded living crèche service by plying them with candy. The white sticks were given a bent shape to represent the shepherd's crook. Was it to make candy more befitting a religious atmosphere? Was it to keep with the nativity theme - a shepherd's crook instead of a cross? Was it to celebrate Christ as the Good Shepherd? There doesn't seem to be a record of what was on the Choirmaster's mind, which leaves the meaning open to discussion and many theories abound. One is that it symbolizes the letter 'J', the first letter in Jesus' name. Another is that it became an emblem for Christians to recognize each other during time of persecution, much like the fish shape. Whatever the reasoning behind it, the bent shape was here to stay, and the candy cane was handed out to children at Christmas services all over Europe.

Candy canes remained white for many years. Christmas cards produced prior to 1900 depicted the candy as pure white and then cards made after that date transformed it into the red and white striped confection that we know and love. The first record of a red striped peppermint candy cane comes from the Swedish town of Granna in 1859 where a widow named Amalia Eriksson began making pastries and candy canes to support her family. She called them polkagris, believed to be connected to the polka dance! No one seems to know why she chose to make it striped, or striped red as opposed to another color. Sometimes candy canes were decorated with sugar roses - was it a case of candy making gone bad which led to a new invention? Was there a religious significance so the white represented the purity of Christ and the red represented the blood of his sacrifice? Are there three stripes to represent the Holy Trinity? Was the candy cane peppermint because the hyssop that was used in Old Testament times for purification and sacrifice is also in the mint family? It seems to boil down to the 'big bang' of elements mixing and creating something wondrous or 'creation' with a master plan of meaning and significance.

This holiday season whenever you hang a candy cane on your Christmas tree, use one to stir your hot apple cider, or munch one at a party, give a thought as to why it is in existence. Was it made to keep children quiet in church & feed a widow's family, or is there a deeper significance that adds meaning to Christmas as urban legends suggest?

About the author:
Author: Teresa McEachern
Teresa McEachern founded Lingo T-shirts: t-shirts that talk for you about your passion for sports, hobbies, family, travel, history, holidays or wildlife.

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