Guide Note

A candy cane is a hard stick of candy shaped like a cane. A traditional candy cane is white with red stripes and is Peppermint flavored, although they are made in various other flavors and colors. Candy canes are most popular during the Christmas season.

Fast Facts

1. A popular Christmas treat
2. Invented by French Priests in the 1400's
3. Peppermint is most common flavor
4. Available in multiple colors and flavors
5. Cherry candy canes are also popular
6. Did not originally have stripes

Legend states that the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany gave sugar sticks to young members of the choir to keep them quiet during ceremonies in 1670. He bent the sugar sticks to look like a shepherd's cane. Other stories regarding the candy cane's origin have people decorating Christmas trees with food. The candy cane was easily hung on the tree due to its curved nature.

Candy canes were originally completely white and did not have stripes. Candy canes with stripes first appeared in the early 1900s.