Fun Facts About Candy Canes

What would Christmas be without candy canes? Everyone seems to love this festive treat. People use them to decorate their Christmas tree and make snacks, but most of the time people just enjoy this special treat on its own. But, when did candy canes come about? What is the significance of this special treat? Keep reading to find out those fun facts and a few more.

Fun Facts About Candy Canes: Got Its Shape in 1670

People have been enjoying straight peppermint sticks for almost 600 years. But, the fact is candy canes didn't get their shape until 1670. As legend has it, a choirmaster in Germany bent the sticks to have a curved shape. Thus, the first candy cane was born.

Fun Facts About Candy Canes: Used to Decorate Christmas Trees

Another fun fact is that this festive treat is often used to decorate Christmas trees. Sometimes people merely hang them from the branches as they are, but sometimes people turn them into reindeers by using just a few craft supplies. Either way, this is a great way to use this festive treat. But, this is not a good idea if you have pets in your home.

Fun Facts About Candy Canes: They Didn't Get Their Stripes for Quite Some Time

While peppermint sticks and candy canes have been enjoyed for many, many years they did not get their stripes until around 1900. Another fun fact is that this festive treat can now be found in a variety of colors and flavors. Even cherry seems like a plain flavor when you consider that candy canes can now be found in Hershey's and Jelly Belly flavors.

Fun Facts About Candy Canes: The Shape Is Said to Mean Different Things

There are so many different legends about this classic Christmas treat. While these may or may not be facts, they are still interesting. Some people believe that the treat is supposed to be a shepherd's staff, while others believe it is supposed to be the letter J to represent Jesus. Either way, the treat does have a religious background.

Fun Facts About Candy Canes: Some Big Candy Canes Have Been Made