HOOKED ON CANDY CANES

Hooked on CANDY CANDY CANES CANES

BY NINA K. GLASER, THE GAZETTE

FYI: National Candy Cane Day is December 26!

It probably would not seem like Christmas without candy canes … but have you ever thought about the origins of this celebrated confection that is now an iconic symbol of the holiday? Its past is a bit mysterious, but no one would ever deny that they are delightful and delicious!

Here are seven things it may interest you to know:

1History shows the sweet treat dates to 1670s Germany, with a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral handing out sugar sticks to quiet choirboys. A question regarding the shape of the candy cane: Did the choirmaster bend the candies to resemble Shepherds’ hooks, or does the

“J” represent Jesus?

2Candy canes are the number-one-selling non-chocolate candy during the month of December, with 90% of its 1.76 billion annually produced inventory sold between

Thanksgiving and Christmas.

3The earliest candy canes were manufactured by hand. When they made their U.S. debut in 1847, they were all white, and remained this way until the turn of the 20th century, when red stripes (and mass production) emerged.

4Candy canes have three ingredients: sugar, corn syrup and flavoring (peppermint being the most popular).

5Research shows that 72% of people start eating their candy canes on the straight end, with 28% beginning on the curved end.

6When stored in a cool, dry place, your candy cane can last for over one year, possibly up to five years!

7Candy canes are typically 5-inches long and 50 calories, sans fat or cholesterol. (The candy cane holding the Guinness

World Record was 51 feet long!)