The true origin of candy canes is hazy, mixing recorded history with a good amount of legend. Hard candy has existed for thousands of years. The expense of sugar made it a rare treat, shared on special occasions and holidays or as a reward for children’s good behavior.
Church records show that in 1670, a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany handed out white candy sticks to keep restless children quiet during Christmas services. The sweets took a long time to finish and kept little hands and mouths busy while they weren’t singing. Worried it might seem improper to give candy in church, he added the symbolic crook to recall the shepherds of the Nativity.
There is a myth in evangelical Christian circles, I believe acknowledged in the article, that candy canes have their color (white for purity, red for blood) and shape (upside-down J for Jesus) and taste (sweet like the gospel) to explicitly communicate Christian doctrines. There is even a children’s Christmas musical performed in churches at Christmas based on this principle. As much as one may approve of the doctrines, Christians holding steadfastly to a particular origin of candy canes regardless of the evidence seems dishonest and misguided, if not outright idolatrous to me.
Sheesh. That is crazy. I grew up in evangelical churches in the southern USA and that’s a new one to me.
I don’t think it’s crazy, just desperate for validation.
As made up as everything else they teach. Nothing to see here.