Christmas

A candy cane is a hard cane-shaped candy stick. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint; however, it is also made in a variety of other flavors and colored stripes. The candy cane is a traditional candy surrounding the Christmas holiday, although it is possible to find them throughout the year.

The candy cane was originally a straight, hard, and all-white candy stick. The cane shape is traditionally credited to a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany, who, legend has it, in 1670 bent straight sugar sticks into canes to represent a shepherd's staff, and gave them to children at church services. Whether the choirmaster had the "Good Shepherd" in mind is unknown. Peppermint candy with red stripes first appeared in the mid-19th century in the Swedish town of Gränna [1], and striped candy canes in the early 20th century.

Urban legends about the origin of candy canes

Apocryphal tales suggesting the candy cane was created wholecloth (usually by an American Protestant, usually described as being an unnamed candy maker in 1870s Indiana) to represent Jesus (white for his purity, red for the blood he shed, and the general shape for the J in his name and the cane of the shepards) have become popular in recent years. These are recently created stories with no factual basis.

Other uses

Candy canes are sometimes ground up and used as a topping for foods such as ice cream or as an additive to drinks such as hot chocolate. They are also hung as decorations on Christmas trees.

The British confectionery called "seaside rock" is manufactured in a similar fashion.

External links

• About.com: History of the candy cane
• Candy Cane: Candy Cane history, recipes, facts, links, and more
• The Tradition of the Candy Cane
• Urban Legends Reference Pages debunking of candy canes' religious origins