The Origins of the Candy Cane - Other

The candy cane has been around for hundreds of years, in one form or another. Many people think of it as just another Christmas treat or tree decoration. It has not always been that way. The candy cane appears to have a rather intriguing history behind it.

It is believed that the very first candy cane was made in 1670 by the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. He gave each one of the younger members of the choir a white candy stick in an effort to keep them quiet during the Living Crche ceremony (Living Nativity Ceremony). These were not just ordinary candy sticks though. Rather than being the normal straight stick of hard candy, he had them made in the shape of a shepherd's crook, which was meant to symbolize the first shepherds who worshipped the newborn Christ.

We did not see candy canes used as Christmas tree ornaments until 1847. August Imgard, a German-Swedish immigrant who resided in Wooster, Ohio, was the first person to introduce candy canes to America. He used paper ornaments and the crook shaped candy canes to decorate a small Blue Spruce tree. This officially began the yuletide tradition of placing candy canes on the Christmas tree.

Up this point, Candy Canes did not have the traditional red stripes or the peppermint flavor that we know today. They did not take on these features until sometime in the early 20th century, although no one is sure of the exact year or who was responsible for them. Some believe that the white body of the candy cane represents the Immaculate Conception of Jesus Christ or the purity of life and the red stripe symbolizes the sacrifices that Jesus Christ made for mankind or his death on the cross.

In the 1920's when a gentleman named Bob McCormack, from Albany, Georgia, started making candy canes as a special treat for his friends and family during the Christmas season. The process of making these candy canes was extremely difficult for him because the candy had to be hand pulled, twisted, cut and bent into is familiar cane shape. Therefore, McCormack could not sell his candy cane treats outside of his local area. It would have required too much time and effort.

Approximately thirty years later, Bob McCormack's brother in law, Gregory Keller, invented a machine that would make the candy cane production process much easier because it made the candy canes for them. This new machine combined with a new packaging technique allowed McCormack to mass-produce and deliver his beloved treat. Eventually, his candy company, Bob's Candies, became the largest supplier of candy canes in the world.

Many people across the world still to this day enjoy candy canes. They now come in just about every color and flavor imaginable but the true meaning behind them still remains. Like the Christmas tree and the Christmas stocking, the candy cane has become an integral part of the Holiday celebration.