Candy canes are loved both as a food and as a decorative symbol of the season. But what do they mean and where did they come from?
Sugar candy sticks were a part of Christmas treats and decorations during the 1600's, though the first ones were straight in shape and plain white. The first curved candy cane shape is attributed to a celebration at a cathedral, in which the choirmaster bent the sticks into the shape of a shepherd’s crook to distribute to children. It was not until the 1900's that the red stripes were added, giving us the traditional candy cane design you see today.
Many people attribute different religious meanings to the candy cane. As stated before, the candy cane was originally curved to represent the shepherd's crook, but nowadays some see candy cane curve to represent the letter J, for Jesus. Some say that the white and red stripes are meant to symbolize purity and the blood sacrificed by Jesus for humanity. Whichever is the right answer, there is no denying that this beloved treat has a rich and colorful history.