How Did Candy Canes Get Their Shape? (2024)

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How Did Candy Canes Get Their Shape? ›

The originator bent the candy in the shape of a cane to represent the shepherd's crook and these candies became a Christmas tradition at the church, and eventually the candy cane spread throughout Europe and became associated with Christmas.

Candy canes were originally solid white, but during the turn of the 20th century stripes started to appear. Prior to the late 19th century, Christmas cards of that period show nothing but plain white candy.

Although this is candy and not associated with religion, legends speak differently. They say that the shape of the stick resembles the letter “J” for Jesus (I wonder what he would say about that). Then there's something about the Trinity because of the three red stripes.

“Legend has it that the candy cane dates back to 1670, when the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany handed out sugar sticks among his young singers to keep them quiet during the Living Creche ceremony,” Schildhaus says. “In honor of the occasion, he bent the candies into shepherds' crooks.”

In order to justify the practice of giving candy to children during Mass, he asked the candy maker to add a crook to the top of each stick, which would help children remember the shepherds who visited the infant Jesus.

The first candy sticks were made in 1670 by the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany. They were a gift to the children attending the Christmas Nativity pageant. Because of the shepherds in the Nativity story, the choirmaster bent the candy sticks into canes to represent the shepherd's crook.

They actually started out as a plain old straight, white sugar stick most likely used by parents of the 1600s as a pacifier. They evidently were not too worried with the condition of their offspring's teeth! Although created around 1670, it wasn't until 1844 that a recipe for straight candy sticks was published.

Cane: Is like the staff used by the shepherds in caring for sheep. Jesus is our “Good Shepherd.” The Color Red: Is for God's love that sent Jesus to give his life for us on the cross. The Stripes: Remind us of Jesus' suffering-his crown of thorns, the wounds in his hands and feet; and the cross on which he died.

Despite little being known about her personality at the time, there is a lot of Candy Cane that we know about. Candy Cane acts as a typical teenage girl (or valley-girl), as she is shown to own a phone.

What does an upside down candy cane mean? ›

This hard candy was shaped so it would resemble a “J” for Jesus or, turned upside down, a shepherd's staff. He made it white to represent the purity of Christ.

In 1847, he made a candy to symbolize Christ. The cane's "J" shape stands for Jesus; when turned upside-down, it becomes a shepherd's staff. The white color signifies purity; the red represents Christ's blood, shed for the world's sins, and three red stripes symbolize the trinity.

This particular shape makes it almost irresistible for people to bite down on it, young and old. This can cause chips and/or breaks in even the strongest teeth. If you do indulge this year, be sure to be careful. Brush thoroughly and regularly, minimize frequency of such treats, and be sure not to bite.

The history of candy dates back to ancient peoples who must have snacked on sweet honey straight from beehives. The first candy confections were fruits and nuts rolled in honey.

The first documented use of candy canes in Christmas decor dates back to 1847 when August Imgard, a German-Swedish immigrant, adorned a small blue spruce tree with this peppermint treat. This marked the inception of a delightful tradition that would soon captivate holiday enthusiasts.

Tucked inside a stately, big yellow home in Newtown, OH is a true piece of Cincinnati history. The story began in 1871 with the arrival of Claus Doscher, a 17 year old young German immigrant.

Candy canes didn't always have stripes – and they weren't always canes. They were once simple white sticks of sugar, marketed as a treat for children. While the use of colored stripes dates back to at least 1844, modern candy canes didn't appear on Christmas cards until after 1900.