Sunday, December 9, 2007

why candy canes?

I always buy candy canes at this time of the year, but never really thought about how they became a Christmas tradition. I ran into this little bit of history in our local paper this week, so I'll pass it along. Here's the story behind that popular sweet.

A candy maker from Indiana was the creator of the Christmas candy cane. One year he decided to make a special treat for his family, with the objective of it being a testament to the birth of Christ...and the foundation of the Church.

He formed a candy in the shape of a "J", for Jesus. Inverted, it was the shape of the shepherd's staff. The original colours were red and white: white for purity, to remind us of God's Son, and red to represent the blood He shed on the cross.

And the love of God was made clear to us when he sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. 1 John 1:9

Have a blessed advent Sunday!

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the info Judy..I will never again look at a candy cane without thinking of what it represents.

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  2. Thanks for passing on that interesting piece of history. Candy canes will also take on new meaning in our home. And I will favor the red and white ones.
    Take care Judy. Martha.

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