Thread: Does anyone have a copy of the Candy Cane story ?

It was a poem about how a candy maker made a candy cane to symbolise the Christ in Christmas, the stripes, the shape, ect ...

This one?

The Candy Cane Story



A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he created 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 symbolizes the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus. The hard candy symbolizes the solid rock - the foundation of the church and firmness of God's promises.

The candy maker made the candy in the form of the letter "J" to represent the name of Jesus. It also represents the staff with which the Good Shepherd reaches down to 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. The candy maker used three small stripes to represent the scourging Jesus received by which we were healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross.

Since that time, however, the candy has become known as the candy cane. The story of its creation has been lost to tradition and mass production, and it is now available in many different colors, shapes, and sizes.

I have another one somewhere too...

The Story of the Candy Cane
There once were two villages in a far off land. One was in a valley and one was on a mountain top. The people in the mountain village wanted to give each person in the valley a gift of love at Christmas. The people in the valley were having difficult times, but those in the mountain village were doing well. (Sometimes when we are on a mountain top we can help those who are going through a valley in their lives too.)
So a committee was formed of townspeople to see if someone would be able to think of something special. Money was limited, and each gift had to be of equal value to each person. After much time and discussion a decision was finally reached. An elderly gentleman who had loved Jesus for many years and who was well respected and loved, came up with the idea of the candy cane.

Now, you may be thinking, what is so special about a candy cane and how can it ever be tied in with the real meaning of Christmas? Well, here is how and why...

1. The candy cane is in the shape of a shepherds staff. Jesus is our Shepherd and we are His flock. A sheep follows his own shepherd, knows his voice, and trusts him and knows that he is totally safe with him. The sheep will follow no other shepherd but their own. This is how we are to be with Jesus if we truly follow Him ( John 10:11; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 40:11)

2. Upside down the candy cane is a "J", the first letter of Jesus' name. ( Luke 1:31) It is made of hard candy to remind us that Christ is the rock of our salvation.

3. The wide red stripes on the candy cane represent the blood He shed on the cross for each one of us so that we can have eternal life through Him. He redeems us and cleanses us with His shed blood - the only thing that can wash away our sin. ( Luke 22:20)

4. The white stripes on a candy cane represent the virgin birth, sinless life and purity of our Lord. He is the only human being who ever lived on this earth who never committed a single sin. Even though He was tempted just as we are, He never sinned. ( I Peter: 22)

5. The narrow red stripes on candy canes symbolize that by His stripes, or wounds, we are healed. Before the crucifixion Jesus was beaten; the crown of thorns was placed on His head; His back was raw from the whip. We are healed by those wounds. He bore our sorrows and by His stripes we are healed. ( Isaiah 53:3)

6. The flavoring in the candy cane is peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is of the mint family and was used in Old Testament times for purification and sacrifice. ( John 19:29; Psalm 51:7)

7. When we break our candy cane it reminds us that Jesus' body was broken for us. When we have communion it is a reminder of what He did for us. ( I Cor. 11:24)

8. AND, if we share our candy cane and give some to someone else in love because we want to, it represents that same love of Jesus because He is to be shared with one another in love. ( I John 4:7,8)

God gave Himself to us when He sent Jesus. He loved us so much He wants us to spend eternal life with Him... which we can do if we accept Jesus in our hearts as Savior and Lord. ( John 1:12; John 3:3,16)



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Some people believe this story of the candy cane is just a legend. Others believe it really happened. We do not know for sure exactly how the candy cane was invented, but there is one thing for certain... it is an excellent picture of Christ and His love for you.



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According to the legend, there was a candy maker who wanted to invent a candy that was a witness to Christ. The result was the candy cane.

First of all he used a hard candy because Christ is the Rock of all ages.

This hard candy was shaped so that it would resemble either a "J" for Jesus or a shepherd's staff.
He made it white to represent the Purity of Christ.
Finally a red stripe was added to represent the blood of Christ shed for the sins of the world and three thinner stripes for the stripes He received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped Him.
Sometimes a green stripe is added as a reminder that Jesus is a Gift from God. The flavor of the candy is peppermint which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is in the mint family and was used in the Old Testament for purification and sacrifice. Jesus is the Pure Lamb of God come to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

So the next time you see a candy cane, hear the Sermon it preaches: Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, is the Rock of all Ages who suffered and died for our sins.