National Candy Cane Day on December 26th gives candy lovers a day to celebrate the red and white striped candies found abundantly during the holidays.
- 1670 – The story of candy canes began in the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, where the choirmaster handed out the bent sweet sticks to his youngest singers to keep them quiet during the long Living Creche ceremony.
- 1837 – The earliest verifiable reference to stick candy is a record of the 1837 Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, where confections were judged competitively.
- 1844 – a recipe for a straight peppermint candy stick, which was white with colored stripes, was published.
- 1847 – August Imgard, a German-Swedish immigrant, decorated a small blue spruce with paper ornaments and candy canes in Wooster, Ohio.
- 1859 – Candy canes most likely evolved from a Swedish candy called polkagris. Invented in 1859, these straight candy sticks were originally peppermint flavored with red and white stripes.
- 1866 – Literature begins mentioning the candy cane in 1866, and it was first known to be mentioned in connection with Christmas in 1874.
- 1882 – As early as 1882, candy canes have been hung on Christmas trees.
- 1900 – Striped red and white candy canes were first introduced in 1900.
- 1920s – In Albany, Georgia, Bob McCormack began making candy canes by hand as special Christmas treats for his children and friends.
- 1921 – The first machine to make candy canes were invented in 1921 by Brasher O. Westerfield. Until then, they were made by hand.
- 1950s – Gregory Keller, a Catholic priest, invented a machine to automate the production of candy canes.
- The average candy cane is 5 inches tall.
- While most candy canes are not sugar or calorie-free, they do not have any fat or cholesterol.
- Bob McCormack and his brother-in-law & priest Gregory Keller brought the candy cane to the masses. What started out as candy making for McCormack’s friends and family turned into mass production when Keller invented the machine that enabled Bobs Candies to go big time.
- The curved part of the candy cane is called the “warble,” and the straight part is called the strabe.
- Traditionally the flavor for candy canes is peppermint, but there are a variety of flavors.
- A standard, 6-inch candy cane contains two servings with approximately 50-60 calories per serving.
- Nearly 2 billion candy canes will be sold in the four weeks before Christmas and Hanukkah.
- The world’s largest candy cane was built by Geneva, Illinois chef Alain Roby in 2012. It was 51 feet long, required about 900 pounds of sugar.
- Peppermint candy canes are touted for some substantial health benefits including aiding in gastrointestinal discomfort, curbing cravings, easing headaches, relieving stuffy noses, and of course, freshening breath.
- A study by the National Confectioners Association shows that seventy-two percent of people feel eating the straight end first is best, while twenty-eight percent start with the curved end first.
- Meaning and Symbolism of the Candy Cane
- Shape:
- J-shape: The candy cane is shaped like the letter “J,” symbolizing Jesus, the central figure of Christianity.
- Shepherd’s staff: Turned the other way, it resembles a shepherd’s staff, representing Jesus as the Good Shepherd who guides and protects His flock (John 10:11).
- Color:
- White: The white color signifies the purity and sinlessness of Jesus Christ.
- Red stripes: The red stripes symbolize the blood of Christ shed for humanity’s sins during His crucifixion. Some interpretations suggest the larger red stripe represents Jesus’ sacrifice, while smaller stripes (if present) may symbolize the stripes He received during His suffering on the cross.
- Texture:
- The candy cane’s hardness reflects the solid foundation of faith and the strength of Jesus as a “rock.”
- Flavor:
- Peppermint: This is reminiscent of hyssop, a plant used in biblical times for purification (Psalm 51:7), symbolizing Jesus’ role in spiritual cleansing.
Sources:
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