History of the Candy Cane
Think the history of Christmas is complicated? Well, surely the story of the candy cane must be a simple one. After all, it’s just a stick of sugar, right? Think again! The candy cane’s past and meaning have become quite controversial and debated in some circles. Even something as innocuous as a thin, hard candy - when wrapped up with Christmas - can become quite a weighty confection.
Some have come to believe the candy cane is historically linked to Christianity and believe it holds special symbolic meaning for Christians. Others feel it is just a stick of candy (with an ironic shape). The varied histories of the candy cane are written with such certainty it’s hard to determine where the legend ends and the truth begins. But it is true that in the present time, in response to what some Christian’s feel is a growing movement to de-Christ Christmas, there has been an increasing movement by believers to reiterate (and perhaps enhance) the significance of Christian symbols. And so you get the split personality candy cane: Tree decoration, pacifier of the sweet tooth, tribute to Jesus.
It is generally accepted that the candy cane first became associated with Christmas in a decorative way. In Europe, where the Christmas tree originated, the evergreens were originally festooned with ornamental baked goods, different foods, and handmade crafts. The candy cane was one such decoration, albeit in a more austere form than the canes of today. The original European candy canes were pure white and shaped as straight sticks. The reason for the eventual change from a straight stick to a crooked neck, along with the meaning of later added stripes and flavor, is the fuzzy part of the candy cane’s history.
Legend tells of a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany who used the white sticks of candy to appease children during the long nativity services during Christmas time. The story tells how in 1670, the creative clergyman thought to bend the stick in to the shape of a cane to represent the shepherd’s staff. The practice of passing out the canes in church during Christmas services spread throughout Europe and eventually reached America. However, the first known reference to candy canes in the US was not in association with church services. The first record states that in 1847, a German immigrant named August Imgard used candy canes as decoration on his Christmas tree in his Ohio home.
