Your Ancestors' Favorite - Christmas Candy Canes
What is the Christmas season without candy canes? In earlier years, this peppermint-flavored treat was a rarity and only available during the holiday season.
There are numerous ideas of how the candy cane started, including in 1847 with a German immigrant who adored his Christmas tree with candy canes.
The treat of candy canes did start in Europe in the 1600s. But these early candy treats were straight sticks, not a cane. In 1844 the striped candy sticks were referred to in literature. It would be in the 1890s that the curved striped candy canes appeared. They were hard to produce and were brittle. In 1919 a candy maker developed machines that could quickly and reliably automate the process of bending the candy sticks and not have them break.
Throughout the 20th and into the 21st century, candy canes are a nostalgic and enduring symbol of the holiday season and found everywhere. People used the real candy canes, most were wrapped in clear plastic and later made-made plastic candy canes were made for decorating. You can be sure your ancestors as youngsters did look forward to this treat, whether it was straight or a cane.
Photos: Candy canes on a tree; Candy canes decorate greeting cards; and candy canes used to decorate.
Related FamilyTree.com Blogs:
Children’s Christmas Gifts of 1913
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