By Brad Dison
Each year on Christmas Eve, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Cologne, Germany hosted a Living Crèche, what you and I know as a nativity scene or manger scene. Church members dressed as shepherds, angels, wise men, Mary, and Joseph, stood as motionless as possible to show their reverence for such an important and sacred event. If one was available, a newborn child played the part of baby Jesus. The recreated nativity scene often included various animals. In some years, a parishioner read the story of the birth of Christ to be sure that everyone, regardless of age, understood the occasion. A well-rehearsed choir of children broke the silence by singing a religious hymn, followed by a period of silence, then another hymn.
In the years leading up to the Living Crèche of 1670, the children in the choir became bored between songs. The choirmaster instructed them not to move from their assigned spots and not to talk. The period between songs was reserved for absolute silence. The children followed the first instruction and remained in their spots, but as they became bored, their natural inclinations slowly took over. One would give another a look. Another would whisper. The progression continued as long as they went unnoticed by the choirmaster. Before long, the children were talking. A stern look from the choirmaster quelled their conversations, but only for a few moments and the progression began again.
The choirmaster was determined that the Living Crèche of 1670 would be different. In previous years, the choirmaster had threatened and meted out different types of punishments, but they had little effect. Nothing seemed to keep the children quiet. He planned to find another way to keep the children quiet. After much consideration of various ideas, all of which he quickly discounted for one reason or another, he decided that the only way to keep the children quiet was to put something into their mouths, but what? Handkerchiefs? Pieces of wood? Surgeons used items such as these for their patients to bite down on during operations, but the parishioners would never have allowed that to happen. Finally, the choirmaster settled on something more positive, food. If he gave the children something good to eat, something all the children liked, they would not be able to talk. The choirmaster knew the parishioners would not allow children to eat during such a solemn occasion. He searched for a loophole and, after a visit to the local confectioner, the choirmaster came up with a solution. He ordered enough white “sugar sticks” specially designed to resemble a holy symbol related to the story of the birth of the savior.
The archbishop raised an eyebrow in disapproval when the choirmaster explained that he would give the choir children sugar sticks during the Living Crèche. When the choirmaster explained how the sugar sticks tied into the nativity scene, the archbishop relented. On Christmas Eve of 1670, the choirmaster passed out his specially designed sugar sticks to the children. During the service, the children were silent between songs as they enjoyed their sugar sticks. His plan had worked. In the following years, in addition to the children in the choir, the congregation enjoyed the sugar sticks as well. The ritual eventually spread around the Christian world and became a part of our Christmas tradition which continues to this day.
We buy more of these sugar sticks during the Christmas season than any other time of year. In addition to their great taste, we often decorate with them. They still have the same shape as designed by the Cologne choirmaster, but they now come in a variety of flavors and colors. The most popular, by far, is the peppermint flavored red and white sugar stick. Back in 1670, the choirmaster had the confectioner bend the sugar sticks in the shape of a shepherd’s crook or hook. We know these sugar sticks as candy canes.
Sources:
1. “Candy Cane History & Legends, Spangler Candy.” Www.spanglercandy.com, www.spanglercandy.com/our-
2. Kennedy, Lesley. “The Twisted History of Candy Canes.” History, 7 Dec. 2018, www.history.com/news/candy-
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