Christmas candy canes are iconic symbols of Christmas. Their red and white stripes adorn trees and houses for the duration of the vacations whilst their minty flavour delights taste buds.
According to a study, a U.S based crew that advocates for the confectionery industry, sweet canes are the top-selling non-chocolate sweet in December — 90 per cent are sold between U.S. Thanksgiving and Christmas.
But how did Christmas candy canes become related to Christmas? Here’s how…
History of Christmas Candy Canes
The first historic reference to the candy cane goes back to 1670.
The choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany first bent the sugar-sticks into the form of canes to signify a shepherd’s staff.
The all-white sweet canes have been then given out to children during the long-winded nativity services.
The clergymen’s customized of handing out sweet canes throughout Christmas offerings would eventually spread all through Europe and later to America.
At the time, the canes have been still white, however, sometimes the candy-makers would add sugar-roses to further enhance the canes. In, 1847, the first historic reference to the sweet cane in America was regarded when a German immigrant named August Imgard decorated the Christmas tree in his Wooster, Ohio home with candy canes.
About 50 years later, the first red-and-white-striped candy canes appeared.
No one is aware of who precisely invented the stripes, but based totally on historic Christmas cards, we comprehend that no striped candy canes seemed prior to the year 1900.
Illustrations of striped sweet canes did not even exhibit up till the start of the 20th century.
Around that time, candy-makers started including peppermint and wintergreen flavours to their candy canes and these flavours would quickly end up established as the common favourites.
Legends And Myths Related To The Candy Canes
There are many different legends and spiritual beliefs surrounding the candy cane.
Many of them depict the candy cane as a secret image for Christianity all through a time when Christians were living under more oppressive circumstances.
Many humans believe that the form and structure of the candy cane have religious meaning.
It is agreed with that the red stripes of the candy cane characterize the blood of Christ and the white stripes characterize the purity of Christ.
The three fine stripes are believed to characterize the Holy Trinity. The ‘’J’’ form of the candy cane is stated to symbolize the name of Jesus.
The strong texture or hardness of the candy cane is stated to represent the stable rock basis of the Church.
The peppermint taste is supposed to stem from an herb referred to as hyssop.
In the Old Testament Hyssop was once used to represent the purity of Jesus and the sacrifice he made. The crook structure is stated to represent a shepherd’s crook.
Either way, the candy cane is now a normal symbol of the Christmas holiday.
Today, candy canes are available in various shapes, shades and flavours, however the red and white peppermint candy cane nevertheless stays the traditional favoured amongst candy canes.
