National Candy Cane Day, December 29th

Though no one knows for sure who “invented” the original version of the candy cane or first put it to use, the iconic Christmas item continues its reign of popularity. The National Confectioners Association reports that candy canes are the number one nonchocolate candy sold during December, and 1.76 billion of them are produced in the United States each year.

The most prominent legend of the candy cane’s beginning dates back to 1670 Germany, in Cologne Cathedral. Here, it is said, the choirmaster gave the child singers sugar sticks to keep them quiet during the Christmas service. Some say that the choirmaster bent the sticks to resemble the curved staffs that shepherds carried, honoring the Nativity story, while others suggest the hook was added later to hang

the candies on Christmas trees.

However the candy cane came to be, it is widely agreed upon that it first came to the United States in 1847, thanks to a GermanSwedish immigrant. In 1847, August Imgard decorated a small spruce tree in Wooster,

Ohio, with small paper ornaments and candy canes. In the 200 years before mass production was fully automated, the candy cane was only one color—white.

Once technologies allowed for large-scale production and distribution, candy canes became the red-andwhite-striped commod

ities we know them as today. Perhaps it was added because of its ability to catch the eye, or to match Santa’s coat or poinsettias—we may never know for sure.

Another thing we may never know? The proper way to eat one: do we start at the straight end or the curved end? Though previous surveys have indicated 70% of Americans believe

starting at the straight end is the “right” way to

go, I think that— at least in this case—“proper”

is in the eye of the beholder.