The Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 91, Ed. 1, Tuesday, December 2, 2003 Page: 4 of 16
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Candy Canes: A Sweet and Long History
by Christina Bull
Staff Writer
Candy canes
are an enjoy-
able treat and
decoration that
many people
associate with
Christmas but
have you ever wondered where they
originated from? After the Christmas
tree became popular in Europe the
Europeans wanted something to deco-
rate their trees with. They began to
make food items to adorn the tree with
such as cookies and candy. Then
they began to make straight white
sticks of sugar candy that brought
about the idea of candy canes.
Around the year 1670 the choir-
master at the Cologne Cathedral had
sticks of candy bent into the shape of a
shepherd's cane to pass4out to the chil-
dren who attend the long Living Creche
services. This led to a popular tradi-
tion which involved passing out sugar
canes at Christmas ceremonies in
Europe. The first historical reference to
the candy cane occurred in 1847 after
a German immigrant named August
Imgard decorated his Christmas tree
in Ohio with candy canes. Candy
canes did not gain their familiar red
stripes until the 20th century.
Many people have added their
own religious meanings to candy
canes. Some of these involve associ-
ating the candy cane with the letter "J"
representing Jesus. It is also in the
shape of a shepherd's cane which is
symbolic of how Jesus the "Good
Shepherd" watches over his children
like little lambs. The candy cane is a
hard candy and is solid like a "rock"
the foundation of the Church In the
Old Testament hyssop a member of
the mint family was used for purifica-
tion and sacrifice. The peppermint fla-
vor of the candy cane is a reminder of
the hyssop and the purity of Jesus and
the sacrifice he made. The white of
the candy cane represents the purity of
Jesus. The three red stripes represent
the Holy Trinity by some and others
say it represents the blood spilled at
the beating Jesus received at the
hands of the Roman soldiers
Over the years candy canes have
changed from plain white canes to the
familiar shape and color they have
today. The candy cane remains a
symbol of Christmas and serves as a
reminder of the meaning of Christmas.
Book Delivers Dark Humor To Holiday Season
By Melissa Minshew
Staff Writer
When December arrives it
seems the whole world is listening to
dreadful bands sing even more
appalling Christmas music while stuff-
ing stockings and wishing upon sugar
plum fairies. Amidst the sparkling lights
and excruciatingly repetitive carols it's
easy to become nauseous from an
overdose of sugary Christmas cheer.
Enter David Sedaris. Not your typical
writer definitely not your typical holiday
story content. Sedaris has made a
name for himself writing sarcastic hilar-
ious novels and short stories. His
Christmas work Holidays on Ice is
about as perfect as a Martha Stewart
gingerbread house.
Comprised of six short stories the book
is a succinct and easy read filled with
humor.
Sedaris' most popular story
Santaland Diaries recounts his experi
ences working as an elf at Macy's dur-
ing the holiday season. He tells chil-
dren what I assume every fed-up elf
has ever dreamed of saying threaten-
ing kids and telling them Santa steals
from those on the naughty list. Another
story "Front Row Center With
Thaddeus Bristol" gives a critic's
review of children's banal Christmas
pageants mocking the cheesy dialogue
and dull acting. In homage to the noto-
rious "Christmas letters" (those terrible
things mailed each year so that parents
can detail on candy cane stationary
every goal their soccer children have
scored since last year's letter) Sedaris
writes "Seasons Greetings To Our
Friends and Families!!!" a witty and
surprisingly tragic story of a family
Christmas soured. Overall the book is
a wonderful dose of sardonic humor in
the midst of a mountain of Christmas
fluff. Not only are the stories amusing
but Sedaris has mastered the art of tim-
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ing and has a keen sense of dark
humor that Scrooge himself would be
proud of While the book tends to mock
various aspects of Christmas it gives
its own respectable amount of
Christmas cheer in the form of laugh-
out-loud laughter
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Kappa Pi annual Christmas art sale December 5th and 6th
until 5:00 in the Ira Taylor Memorial Gallery in Frost Center
student work: ceramics drawings sculpture etc... makes
great Christmas gifts.
THE BRAND I 4
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DECEMBER 2 2003
WWW.HSUTX.EDUSTUDENT LIFEBRAND
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The Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 91, Ed. 1, Tuesday, December 2, 2003, newspaper, December 2, 2003; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth97732/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.