Up to the point those neigh sayers at snopes.com have claimed to debunk this more than well told and plausible tale, the first historical reference to the candy cane has commonly been thought to be in the 1670's.
A choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, found a need to keep children occupied during the nativity services of Christmas mass. The popular sugar cane was, at that time a straight stick of peppermint flavored hardened sugar. Being creative, as a shepherd's crook is used to realign a wayward sheep, the choir master whimsically had the candy sticks formed with a bend inorder to appear as the crooks of shepherds....Click here to finish reading.
Hey, Jim! I added your blog to my blog roll; didn't seem to take the first time, but then it worked.
ReplyDeleteWe have a beautiful book about the candy cane's symbolism, called The Legend of the Candy Cane, by Lori Walburg. Its history doesn't matter as much as what it reminds us Christians of today. I suppose Christmas tradition is chock full of pagan influences, but then again, the Body of Christ is chock full of former pagans.
Hi Greg,
ReplyDeletenot sure if you are monitoring comments from here. I have to run or I would leave a comment at your blog too.
There are many stories about the origin of the Candy Cane. The one I chose to believe is the Choir Master having shaped the current white peppermint stick to appear as a shepherds crook.