| The candy cane has been around for hundreds of | | | | white body of the candy cane represents the |
| years, in one form or another. Many people think | | | | Immaculate Conception of Jesus Christ or the |
| of it as just another Christmas treat or tree | | | | purity of life and the red stripe symbolizes the |
| decoration. It has not always been that way. The | | | | sacrifices that Jesus Christ made for mankind or |
| candy cane appears to have a rather intriguing | | | | his death on the cross. |
| history behind it. | | | | In the 1920's when a gentleman named Bob |
| It is believed that the very first candy cane was | | | | McCormack, from Albany, Georgia, started |
| made in 1670 by the choirmaster at the Cologne | | | | making candy canes as a special treat for his |
| Cathedral in Germany. He gave each one of the | | | | friends and family during the Christmas season. |
| younger members of the choir a white candy | | | | The process of making these candy canes was |
| stick in an effort to keep them quiet during the | | | | extremely difficult for him because the candy had |
| Living Crèche ceremony (Living Nativity | | | | to be hand pulled, twisted, cut and bent into is |
| Ceremony). These were not just ordinary candy | | | | familiar cane shape. Therefore, McCormack could |
| sticks though. Rather than being the normal | | | | not sell his candy cane treats outside of his local |
| straight stick of hard candy, he had them made in | | | | area. It would have required too much time and |
| the shape of a shepherd's crook, which was | | | | effort. |
| meant to symbolize the first shepherds who | | | | Approximately thirty years later, Bob |
| worshipped the newborn Christ. | | | | McCormack's brother in law, Gregory Keller, |
| We did not see candy canes used as Christmas | | | | invented a machine that would make the candy |
| tree ornaments until 1847. August Imgard, a | | | | cane production process much easier because it |
| German-Swedish immigrant who resided in | | | | made the candy canes for them. This new |
| Wooster, Ohio, was the first person to introduce | | | | machine combined with a new packaging |
| candy canes to America. He used paper | | | | technique allowed McCormack to mass-produce |
| ornaments and the crook shaped candy canes to | | | | and deliver his beloved treat. Eventually, his candy |
| decorate a small Blue Spruce tree. This officially | | | | company, Bob's Candies, became the largest |
| began the yuletide tradition of placing candy canes | | | | supplier of candy canes in the world. |
| on the Christmas tree. | | | | Many people across the world still to this day |
| Up this point, Candy Canes did not have the | | | | enjoy candy canes. They now come in just about |
| traditional red stripes or the peppermint flavor | | | | every color and flavor imaginable but the true |
| that we know today. They did not take on these | | | | meaning behind them still remains. Like the |
| features until sometime in the early 20th century, | | | | Christmas tree and the Christmas stocking, the |
| although no one is sure of the exact year or who | | | | candy cane has become an integral part of the |
| was responsible for them. Some believe that the | | | | Holiday celebration. |