Candy cane
A candy cane is a hard cane-shaped candy stick. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint; however, it is also made in a variety of other flavors and colored stripes of different thicknesses. The candy cane is a traditional candy surrounding the Christmas holiday in the USA, although it is possible to find them throughout the year.
The candy cane was originally a straight, hard, and all-white candy stick invented by French priests in the early 1400s. The cane shape is traditionally credited to a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany, who, legend has it, in 1670 bent straight sugar sticks into canes to represent a shepherd's staff, and gave them to children at church services. Whether the choirmaster had the Good Shepherd in mind is unknown. Another theory is, as people decorated their Yule trees with food, the bent candy cane was invented as a functional solution. Peppermint candy with red stripes first appeared in the mid-19th century in the Swedish town of Gränna [1], and striped candy canes in the early 20th century.
In Sweden fag the candy canes are called polkagris (literally "polka pig"). The aforementioned Swedish town Gränna is called the "polkagris capital of the world".
Other uses
Candy canes are sometimes ground up and used as a topping for foods such as ice cream, fudge, or cookies, or as an additive to drinks such as hot chocolate or coffee. They are also hung as decorations on Christmas trees.
The British confectionery called "seaside rock" is manufactured in a similar fashion in Great Britain.
Urban legends
In recent years, apocryphal origin stories for the candy cane have become popular. Usually they suggest the candy cane was invented by an American Protestant, usually described as being an unnamed candy maker in 1870s Indiana, to represent Jesus Christ. These stories typically suggest that the white of the candy cane represents Jesus's purity, the bold red stripes represents crucifixion, and the three thin red stripes stand for the Holy Trinity. Colors other than red and white are often considered blasphemous, and shunned by the Catholic church. This legend further posits that the general shape is for the "J" in Jesus, as well as perhaps to resemble a shepherd's cane.
Though the name of the inventor of the candycane is unknown, the actual creator is. George Vranas was a Greek immigrant who found a job at a local candy store in New Jersey. The owner of the store was this Protestant, "Indian" man. Whilst the owner dreamed of the candy cane, George created it from slightly melted peppermint stick. George Vranas also created the first boat travel agency, which has branched to a major source of transportation(planes,train,busses,etc.).
External links
- About.com: History of the candy cane
- Candy Cane: Candy Cane history, recipes, facts, links, and more
- The Tradition of the Candy Cane
- Urban Legends Reference Pages debunking of candy canes' religious origins