History of Candy Canes

The first Christmas tree was decorated in Riga, Latvia back in 1510. Not long after this, people started using special decorations to decorate Christmas trees. Of the special decorations used, foods became the most popular items with cookies and candies the obvious choice. Candy canes in their infancy began as straight white candy sticks used as ornaments for Christmas trees. Legend has it that back in the 17th century, these white sticks got their shape like a shepherds hook. Popularity of candy canes started when they were passed out to children during Christmas ceremonies to pacify them. The custom of passing out candy canes at such ceremonies soon spread throughout Europe.

The candy cane came to the United States in 1847 when German immigrant August Imgard decorated a Christmas tree in Wooster, Ohio. Around the turn of the 20th century in Albany, Georgia, it is believed that Bob McCormack made candy canes to give away to friends and family. Making all these candy canes was a time consuming process, that later his brother-in-law, Gregory Keller who happened to be a Catholic priest, invented an automatic machine that could manufacture candy canes. With the manufacturing time cut drastically, more people could now enjoy candy canes and their popularity swept the nation.

Since the candy cane was associated with Christmas, somewhere over time christian symbolism mixed into the history of the candy cane. White represents Christ's purity, red represents the blood he shed, the presence of three red stripes is associated with the Holy Trinity. Factual evidence to support this doesn't exist, however time has a way of blurring facts and this association between the candy cane and Christianity is becoming increasingly more common. Depending on who you ask, some claim this connection as factual. Regardless, of its history or symbolism, the candy cane remains a constant favorite of the holiday season.