Candy Canes are everywhere. They are used as decorations on Christmas trees and are one of the most popular of all Christmas treats. I have heard several stories about the history and meaning of the candy cane. I don't know if they are true, but I do think that the candy cane can teach us a few things about the true meaning of Christmas.
First of all, Did you know that the candy cane appeared for the first time way back in about 1670 when a choir master had sticks of candy bent into the shape of a shepherd’s crook to be handed out to the children who attended his Christmas pageant? That became a tradition at pageants, as did using it as a decoration on Christmas trees. It was all white until the early 20th century when the red stripes were added.
Second, religious meaning has been given to every aspect of it.
First It is also like the letter “J” in Jesus’ name, so that should remind us of Jesus and help us to remember that Christmas is Jesus' birthday.
Second,
The shape is that of the shepherds’ crook, symbolic of how Jesus, like the “Good Shepherd,” watches over His children like little lambs. The shepherd used his crook to keep the sheep from wandering away from the flock and getting lost or eaten by a wild animal. The Bible says, "The Lord is my shepherd." The candy cane should remind us that Jesus is our shepherd and he will keep us from wandering away and getting lost or hurt. (John 10:11)
It is a hard candy, solid like a “rock,” the foundation of the Church and the sweetness of the candy cane reminds us that God Loves us and wants us to enjoy the many gifts He has given us -- especially the gift of His Son, who came into the world on the first Christmas to save us. (John 3:16)
The peppermint flavor is similar to another member of the mint family, hyssop, which was used for purification and sacrifice, and thus symbolizes the purity of Jesus and the sacrifice He made.
The color white of the candy cane also represents the purity of Jesus and His virgin birth. That should also remind us that Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God and that because he came to be the sacrifice for our sin, we can become as white as snow. (I John 1:7)
Red Stripes
The candy cane typically has three red stripes. The bold red stripe represents God’s love. The three fine stripes are said to represent the Holy Trinity: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, or the blood spilled at the beating Jesus received at the hands of the Roman soldiers. The Bible tells us that before he was crucified, Jesus was beaten with a whip which made blood-red stripes across his back. The Bible says that we are healed by those stripes. The stripes on the candy cane should remind us that Jesus suffered and died, so that we can have everlasting life. (Mt 26:28)
We may not always accept all the symbols that other people see in the candy cane or for that matter, any other “Christmas-y” thing. Maybe the candy cane is special to you in some other way and Christmas isn’t Christmas until you have a candy cane!
It is amazing to me that someone was so blessed to be able to see so much of Jesus in something so simple! I pray that we too are able to recognize Jesus in the simplest things, as we enter the season celebrate the birth of our Savior and the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 which reads:-
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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