Have you heard the mystery
of the
Candy Cane?

There are a lot of stories about the origins of the candy cane.

Here’s our favourite:

Many years ago, a sweet maker in Germany wanted to make a special treat for Christmas time. The sweet maker had a deep faith in Jesus, so he wanted this treat to be a symbol of the true meaning of Christmas.

He tried many different designs, and after weeks of effort, he created the candy cane we know and love today.

But why did he choose this shape, and these colours? Scroll down to find out more.

What does the shape of the Candy Cane represent?

A shepherd’s staff?

J for ‘Jesus’?

You decide!

What do the colours represent?

  • The red stripe reminds us of Jesus’s blood: he died for us, paying the price for our sins and repairing our relationship with God.

  • The white stripe helps us understand that Jesus’ willingness to take all our brokenness on himself means we can be forgiven and made clean. Jesus came to Earth to give us a fresh start.

  • The green stripe is like a ribbon, reminding us that this is a wonderful gift from Jesus that he offers to us freely: we only need to accept it from him.

Shepherd's staff

This reminds us of those first shepherds who came to find the baby Jesus; and to remind us that the same baby Jesus grew up and is described as the Great Shepherd who offers to love, protect, and nurture all of us. Shepherds use their hooked staff to pick up sheep who are trapped and in need of rescue, and this is why Jesus came to Earth at that first Christmas: to save each and every one of us.

In the Bible it says "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

John 10:11

Upside-down Candy Cane

If you turn the candy cane upside-down, it makes a J for Jesus!

In the Bible it says "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21

Questions about Christmas?

Questions about faith?

Questions about Jesus?

We all have questions, don’t we?

We’re exploring what this life is all about, aren’t we?

That’s natural and good.

One of the best ways to explore these is at church and in Christian communities.

See the next section for links to Christmas gatherings in the Yorkshire region this December.

You’re invited to a Christmas Celebration near you!

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