Candy Cane

Have you ever wondered about where the candy cane came from? Well here ya go!

"The first historical reference to the familiar cane shape goes back to 1670, when the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, bent the sugar-sticks into canes to represent a shepherd's staff. The all-white candy canes were given out to children during the long-winded nativity services.
The clergymen's custom of handing out candy canes during Christmas services spread throughout Europe and later to America. The canes were still white, but sometimes the candy-makers would add sugar-roses to decorate the canes further.
The first historical reference to the candy cane being in America goes back to 1847, when a German immigrant called August Imgard decorated the Christmas tree in his Wooster, Ohio home with candy canes."

I found it interesting that candy canes were designed to have spiritual significance. This past sunday I taught the children not about the origins of this treat that now comes in all sorts of flavors and colors, but the spiritual significance. The red signifying the blood christ shed and the white the clean and holiness of Christ Jesus.

For years as a child i loved eating candy cane's. We had them all over our tree at home and at church. The church tree decorated with candy canes would often be ransacked by many children including myself as a treat to enjoy inbetween services or on the way home. I never gave the meaning behind them a second thought. Now after I have researched and taught the meaning behind the candy cane i have a whole new appreciation for this treat that goes beyond it's ability to satisfy my sweet tooth...


Blessings,

Mike III AKA: Big Daddy