Why is peppermint the flavor of Christmas candy and why was it striped?
As we approach the holiday season, there is one symbol that we sometimes take for granted. Throughout the Christmas holidays the symbol of the candy cane is overlooked along with its importance. At Christmastime, the red-and-white-striped candy cane is usually found everywhere. Interestingly enough, candy canes were given to children who behaved well in church. Isn’t that a wonderful idea! I’m sure parents everywhere in the world can relate to this extraordinary idea. In 1670 during the Living Creche ceremony at the Cologne Cathedral, the choir director handed out these sugar sticks to keep the young singers quiet. Legend has it that he bent the sticks to appear as shepherd’s hooks. The original candy cane was white in color, no stripes! Both amateur and professionals began making canes over 350 years ago. During the seventeenth century people began to include special decorations on their Christmas trees. These decorations would be cookies, candy, or sugar candy. At this time, Christma
