The Candy Cane: A Delectable Dive into History and Production | The Sugar Association (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning behind the candy cane? ›

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.

“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.

One popular tale traces it back to a German choirmaster seeking a solution to keep children calm during Christmas Eve services. The candy's crook symbolized shepherds, while the red and white stripes embodied the purity of Christ.

(Psalm 31:3). Next the candy maker made the candy in the shape of a 'J' for the name of Jesus who came to earth as our Savior (Matt 1:21, Acts 4:12). When the candy was turned upside down, it is the shape of the Good Shepherd's staff (John 10:11). "I am the good shepherd.

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.

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.

There is a legend about how the candy cane was made. The story says that a candy maker wanted to make a very special piece of candy to remind the children about Jesus. The red color reminds us of Jesus's blood that was shed when we died on the cross. But it is twisted with white.

Candy canes come in many different colours and sizes. They're made by melting sugar and then cooling it into long, thin strips. Once the sugar has cooled, it's then wrapped around a metal rod to form the shape of a candy cane.

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. Some believe the stripes came from the candy maker Bob McCormack in the 1920s.

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. The cane-shaped candy sticks became a tradition at the church.

What does the candy cane symbolize for kids? ›

Hidden Meaning

The white candy represents purity and the holiness and sinless nature of Jesus. It can also symbolize the forgiveness we receive from God that makes our souls white. The cane shape can remind us of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who is always present to guide and protect us.

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.

The color red represents the blood of Christ that was sacrificed on our behalf for our salvation. The pattern of the candy cane stripes are not an accident, either. The three small stripes represent the scourging Jesus received on the Road to Gethsemane.

LOVELAND, OH (December 25, 2021) – According to legend, there was a candy maker who wanted to invent a candy that was witness to Christ. First, he used a hard candy because Christ is the Rock of Ages. This hard candy was shaped so it would resemble a “J” for Jesus or, turned upside down, a shepherd's staff.

Religious affiliation. A common story of the origin of candy canes says that in 1670, in Cologne, Germany, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, wishing to remedy the noise caused by children in his church during the Living Crèche tradition of Christmas Eve, asked a local candy maker for some "sugar sticks" for them.

It also reminds us of the spices brought by the Wise Men when they came to visit Jesus (Psalm 51:7, John 10:29, Matthew 2:11). Broken For Us: Of course, when the candy cane is eaten, it is often broken, which the candy maker meant as a reminder that when Jesus was crucified, his body was broken (I Cor. 11:24).

If we choose to follow Him, He will gently lead us to safety and peace. The red stripes on candy canes symbolizes Christ's sacrifice and the white background, His purity. Reflection: Lord, you came to shepherd and guide us. Gently guide us to the path of salvation at times when we may wander.