Christmas Candy Canes The History of This Holiday Treat
Candy canes have been around for centuries and there are several stories as to who invented them
and when they were invented. One legend has it that in the 17th century a craftsman in Germany
created the white sticks of candy in the shape of a shepherds crook, and the candy was given to
the children to keep them quiet during the church ceremonies. This custom of handing out candy
canes at such ceremonies soon spread throughout Europe.
The National Confectioner's Association says it was in 1847 in Wooster, Ohio that August Imgard,
a German immigrant, first used candy canes to decorate a Christmas tree. Although the Europeans
had been adorning their Christmas trees with white candy sticks as ornaments almost since the
beginning of the practice of using Christmas trees.
Others say that it wasn't until around 1900 that the white canes were decorated with red stripes
and bent into the shape of a cane. It is also said that in Albany, Georgia, around 1900, Bob
McCormack made candy canes as treats for his family and friends. In the 1950s his brother inlaw,
a Catholic priest named Gregory Keller, invented a machine that automated the production of candy
canes. This eliminated the laborious process of making the candy and its popularity grew.
There are plenty of explanations of the candy cane's symbolism, most hold that the color white
represents Christ's purity, the red Christ's blood, and the three red stripes the Holy Trinity.
While there exists no factual evidence to backup any of them, they have become common and are
sometimes presented as facts. Regardless of what you choose to believe, the candy cane, today,
remains a favorite holiday treat and Christmas tree decoration.
