There was a man who loved JESUS so much, that he decided to do something special for JESUS' birthday. Since he was a candy maker he wanted to use his talents to make a special candy to honour JESUS, so he designed the first candy cane.

If the candy cane is held upright, it is the shape of the shepherds staff, which the shepherd uses as he watches over his sheep, and is a symbol of Christian service and care. JESUS is our Shepherd. If the candy cane is turned upside down it becomes the letter "J" for JESUS - He is the joy of living.

The Scriptures tell us that by JESUS' stripes we are healed. JESUS was beaten and stripes were put upon His back when He was crucified in payment for our sins.

So, the candy cane was made with red and white stripes to represent the blood of JESUS which washes away our sins and makes us pure and white as snow.

One bold stripe represents our belief in one God, who is Father of us all. The three fine stripes represent the Trinity - one God who has revealed Himself to us in three ways: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The candy cane is breakable that it may be shared. Receive it as a gift, just as JESUS CHRIST the LORD is a wonderful gift of God's love to us.