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THe Candy Cane Story - an Object Lesson

You may have heard the "Candy Cane Story" before. The candy cane is a beautiful Christmas object lesson with which to share the true meaning of Christmas.


candy cane heart

Photo Credit: BrigitteTohm@Pexels

Origin of the Candy Cane Story

The actual Candy Cane story is based on legend and although no one is completely sure of its origin or facts, the story a candy cane can tell is full of truth to share.

Most historical sources of the legend include:

  • A German choirmaster in the 1600s that used sticks of candy to reward the behavior of his young singers.  To make the candy "more religious" to please the church board, he curved the end so the candy represented a shepherd's staff to go along with the Nativity.
  • In the 1800s a German-Swedish immigrant brought these to America as he settled in Ohio and used them to decorate his Christmas tree.
  • Finally comes the legend of a candy maker in Indiana designed the candy with both red and white stripes hoping to create a Christmas treat to proclaim the truths of Christ and God's great love.


Candy Cane Story Object Lesson

Hold up a candy cane or give every child one to hold. Have them describe it to you.

As they share their observations, tell them how each tells about Jesus Christ.

"the white" - Jesus was pure and holy; He was without sin.

Hebrews 4:15: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. "

The white is also a picture of how God washes our sins away and makes us white as snow when we trust in Jesus as our Savior.

Isaiah 1:18: ""Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

"the red stripes" - the red, of course, is a picture of the blood Jesus shed for each of us; the red stripes depict the stripes on His back as He was beaten

Isaiah 53:5: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. " (KJV)

"the hardness of the candy" - the hardness represents that Jesus is our "Rock"; if we build our lives upon Him, they will be secure and lasting

Luke 6:38: "He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. "

Ephesians 2:20: "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."

1 Peter 2:6: "For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

"the candy cane's shape" - the candy cane is shaped like a shepherd's staff; the Bible calls Jesus our Good Shepherd who watches over us and cares for us; we are called the sheep of His pasture

John 10:11: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Psalm 100:3: "Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture."

"upside down candy cane" - if you turn the cany cane upside down though, it makes a J for Jesus!

Matthew 1:21: "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."



Candy Cane Story Book

As an affiliate of ChristianBook.com, we have found several great items that can be used to share the story of the Candy Cane as well as the book.

Candy Cane Page
candy cane story
730124: The Legend of the Candy Cane, Newly Illustrated Edition: The Inspirational Story of Our Favorite Christmas Candy The Legend of the Candy Cane, Newly Illustrated Edition: The Inspirational Story of Our Favorite Christmas Candy
By Lori Walburg / ZonderKidz

Discover the mystery and miracle of Christmas with this newly illustrated edition of The Legend of the Christmas Cane. When a stranger arrives in town, everyone is curious to discover what he is doing---is he a doctor, or a tailor, or a merchant? When little Lucy extends her help, she finds out the identity of the man and learns the legend behind the candy cane. Will Lucy teach her town the important meaning behind the candy?

Candy Cane Story Craft

When our kids were small, we would make this simple Candy Cane Story Ornament Craft as we talked about the meaning behind the creation of the candy cane.  These still hang on our tree over twenty years later!

candy cane craft

A Christmas object lesson can become a reminder of God's great love during the whole Christmas season. Parents as well as Sunday school teachers can focus the hearts and minds of children on the true meaning of Christmas -"Jesus." A Christmas object lesson also can become a visible children's sermon for pastors.


More Christmas object lessons like the Candy Cane Story.



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