The legend of the Candy Cane - Loveland Beacon (2024)

FAQs

What does the candy cane stand for? ›

On Saint Nicholas Day celebrations, candy canes are given to children as they are also said to represent the crosier of the Christian bishop, Saint Nicholas; crosiers allude to the Good Shepherd, a name sometimes used to refer to Jesus of Nazareth.

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.

“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.”

Another persistent tale explaining the origin story of the candy cane says a 1600s German choirmaster made peppermint candy sticks, which were a popular treat, in the shape of a cane to quiet down rowdy choir boys — the cane shape was intended to represent a shepherd's staff.

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.

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.

(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.

There are people who claim that it has a religious origin, saying the white represents purity of Jesus, and the red represents the blood of Jesus. That's a completely fabricated Christian folklore legend which has no basis in truth. Candy canes originated in the 1800s as a Christmas holiday treat.

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.

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.

What is the oldest candy cane company in the US? ›

Doscher's Candies is an American candy manufacturer, and the oldest producer of candy canes in the United States. It is known for being the oldest continually operating candy company in America.

At What Age Can Kids Eat Candy Canes? According to the AAP, hard candy, such as candy canes, should not be introduced to kids before the age of 5.

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.

If it clings, it probably isn't as fresh as it can be. >> Bite it: Before you stir it into your cocoa, try sinking your teeth into the cane. If it's weirdly soft and chewy, you might want to discard.

White Candy: Stands for Jesus as the holy, sinless Son of God. The letter “J”: Is for the Name of Jesus, our Savior. Cane: Is like the staff used by the shepherds in caring for sheep. Jesus is our “Good Shepherd.”

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the “Good Shepherd” with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

The big mystery is when confectioners started to add peppermint to candy canes, which were a Christmastime treat. The unconfirmed legend of the candy cane itself is that a German choirmaster asked the candy maker to add a shepherd's crook to the candy stick to remind kids of the nativity scene, but nobody really knows.

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. The large red stripe is for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.