Christmas songs, jingle bells, and the winter holidays are here, meaning store shelves are stocked to the brim with candy canes. The sweet and minty flavor of this holiday treat attracts a large, festive following. When the holiday season is over and candy canes are stowed away in clearance aisles despite a loyal audience, questions arise: Why is this
decadent bonbon only sold during the winter holidays? What is the story behind the candy cane?
According to the History Channel, this delightful red and white candy actually originates from Germany. Legend has it that candy canes were invented for the sole purpose of keeping choir boys quiet during the living creche ceremony for celebrating Christmas. This is a ceremony when children act out the story of the baby Jesus (history.com).
Candy canes were not always red and white, but rather were originally plain white candy sugar sticks that were later bent to resemble shepherd crooks. Crooks are the curved canes that shepherds used when tending their flocks. Theories of what the colors represent on the candy cane vary, with the most popular being that red is to represent the blood of Jesus while the white represents purity. However, before the mass production of candy canes occurred, the
treats were solid white (history.com).
Candy canes were not mass produced until 1950 when Priest George Keller invented an automated process. Bob’s Candies was the first store to produce candy canes in bulk, according to a website about candy. This allowed candy canes to become the staple candy they are today, now enjoyed by millions (bulkcandystore.com). Junior Thomas King said, “Christmas has been my favorite holiday since I was very little, and I remember my mom hanging candy canes on our Christmas tree so my brothers and I could eat them every day leading up to Christmas morning.”
Candy canes are the number one selling non-chocolate candy during the month of December, according toTime Magazine. With this treat being a top seller, it garners the question: Why stop after Christmastime? Something about winter gets people excited for the minty smooth flavor that sits on shelves ready to be purchased. Candy canes were not
introduced to the United States until the 1800s, despite their creation in Germany in the 1600s. Also according to Time Magazine, the first use of candy canes in relation to Christmas was when German immigrant August Imgard hung one
on his Christmas tree for decoration. Imgard’s decoration style spread like wildfire, and ever since, candy canes have been associated with Christmas time. Over a billion candy canes are produced each Christmas season, with 90 percent of them being sold in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas (time.com).
Candy canes are clearly a well-loved treat across the globe, especially in the United States. The minty fresh fl avor is synonymous with the holiday season, and can be credited to German immigrants’ introduction of the decadence to America two centuries ago. When the days start to get warmer and the red and white delicacies are moved out of the main grocery store aisles, remember why candy canes only reappear every winter
season.