The Candy Cane

I have bought candy canes for the past 19 years.

It was about 6 years ago my children received a little note along with their candy cane.

Although I don't have the original, you can find the story just about anywhere.

I have never looked at The Candy Cane the same way since then.

The History of the Candy Cane as told to children...

It had to be special to be a gift for the
King of Kings, thought the humble candy
maker from Indiana. Not just any piece of
candy would do. It had to be hard candy
because the church is built on solid rock
and God's promises are a firm foundation.
It would be formed in the shape of the
Good Shepherd's staff. A "J" that would
also stand for the precious name of Jesus.
But it had to say more. White stripes
would symbolize the virgin birth and
sinless nature of Christ. Three small red
stripes would represent the scourging Jesus
suffered on His way to the cross. One large
red stripe would remind those with eyes to
see and ears to hear of the blood Jesus shed
as payment for our sins. It would be a
gift of love that would tell His story -
the greatest story ever told. 

 

 

The True Story

A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness,
so he made the Christmas Candy Cane.

He incorporated several symbols
for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. 

He began with a stick of
pure white, hard candy: white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless
nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the Foundation of the
Church and firmness of the promises of God. 

The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior.

It could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who like all sheep have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes.
He used three small stripes for the blood shed by Christ on the cross. 

So that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as the Candy Cane.
It became a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time.

But meaning is still there for all those who "Have eyes to see and ears to hear." 

We pray that this symbol will again be used to witness to the wonder of Jesus and His great love that came down at Christmas.

Hard Candy - Reminds us that Jesus is like a "ROCK", strong and dependable
Psalm 31:3

Peppermint Flavor - Is like the gift of spices from the wise men
Matthew 2:11

White Candy - Stands for Jesus as the holy, sinless Son of God
1 John 1:7

Cane - Is like a staff used by shepherds in caring for sheep. Jesus is our "Good Shepherd".
John 10: 1-18, 27-30

The Letter J. - Is for the name of Jesus, our Savior.
Matthew 1: 21

The Color Red - Is for God's love that sent Jesus, and for Jesus' love in giving His life for us on the cross.
John 3: 16 and Revelation 1:5

The Stripes - Reminds us of Jesus' suffering - His crown of thorns,
the wounds in His hands and feet, and the cross on which He died.
John 19: 1-30

Instead of looking at things as black and white...
how about looking at things as red and white...

Link:

http://justforkidsmagazine.com/candycanelegend.html