Candy canes are not only a sweet treat, but a symbol of Christ and Christmas time. Candy canes have been displayed and eaten at Christmas for decades, but their origin can be more difficult to decipher. Christianity has played a large role in the symbolism of the candy cane, but much of the candy’s history is too uncertain to fully know the truth. The first account of anything resembling the traditional candy cane lies in Germany around 1670. A choirmaster wanted to create something that would keep the children quiet during the Christmas ceremony. So, he created a plain sugar stick, but asked the candy maker to curve the end so that “the candy would not be just a treat; it would be a teaching tool,” (David Mikkelson). He believed that
