My parents have always teased me on how quickly I could go from having a full-blown tantrum to being completely silent. The trick? A sweet treat. During this time of year, my irritation could always be relieved with none other than a classic candy cane. Here is a little history and debrief of this magical sweet treat.
A Brief History
During the 1670s, a choirmaster handed out plain-white sugar sticks to children at church, in an attempt to keep them quiet during a ceremony. Sweets were generally not accepted at church, so the choirmaster bent the sticks to resemble a religious staff. For many years, candy canes remained plain white, with the red stripe only being added around 1847, which are now the traditional candy canes we recognize today. Eventually, in the twentieth century, the treat made its way to America, and became mass-produced by a company called Bob’s Candies.
Today’s Candy Canes
Presently, over 1.76 billion candy canes are produced each year, and are the second-most candy sold during the month of December, with the first being chocolate. This is especially fitting, as National Candy Cane day lies on December 26. Regardless if you celebrate Christmas or not, make sure to keep your spirits alive all the way to the twenty-sixth, and celebrate with this sweet peppermint treat!
What to Do With Candy Canes?
Candy canes may look a little plain on their own, but with a little creativity and holiday spirit lots can be done with them. For one, you can use them as a decoration! They hang perfectly on various pieces of furniture, and if you hide them, they could make for a fun surprise for someone in your household. If you need to add a little extra flavor to any sort of winter treat, whether it be cookies, brownies, sundaes, or hot cocoa, add candy cane pieces for that fresh and crisp mint punch of flavor and festivity. If you’re looking for more of a DIY challenge, try making the biggest candy cane you possibly can; currently, the Guinness World Record for the largest candy cane stands at thirty-six feet and seven inches in height, and four inches in width.
Hopefully you’ve learned a few new facts or have an idea of how to put this treat to use. The holidays can be a fun yet hectic and crazy time. When you need a moment to yourself, find yourself a good ol’ candy cane, and savor the flavor, history, and festivities that come with this treat.