Christmas Myth: The Origins of the Candy Cane

There's a very popular myth that the candy cane was created as a religious symbol. This is not true. In fact, it is hard to trace the origin of the candy cane.

However, that does not mean there is anything wrong with finding symbolism in something that was not created that way. It is folklore, but it is a nice bit of folklore.

Here are some of the myths about the candy cane that can be celebrated by the religious. Along with these myths are points that show they are myths and not true stories.

Candy canes were curved to symbolize a shepherd's crook and look like a J for the name Jesus.

It is hard to say when candy canes were first curved. It is known that in Europe, sugar was boiled to make candies. There's a story that candy makers gave these treats to children at a nativity scene. There's also a story that a man curved the candies so he could hang them on his tree to entertain his nephews and then others copied his idea. There's also another story that a kind candy maker simply curved the candy to make it less boring for children.

The fact that a crook looks like a J when held upside down is just a fact. Thus, it also happens with candy canes. There was no thought put into the fact that candy canes look like Js.

The red stripes on a candy cane symbolize Jesus's blood and the lashes he received.

Candy canes can be traced back to a time before red food dye existed. It is obvious that red stripes were a later addition. Nobody is sure why somebody first added the the red stripes.

Candy canes are hard to symbolize the fact that Jesus is the rock and God is a firm foundation.

Candy canes simply started as boiled sugar. This made them hard. There was no thought that candy canes needed to be a hard candy.

The base of the candy cane is white to symbolize Mary's virginity.

The base of the candy cane is white to symbolize that Jesus's blood makes us pure.

Boiled sugar would be white. There's was no thought in making the base of the candy cane white. It was always white and later colorings were added.

The peppermint flavor of candy canes symbolizes the cleaning hyssop.