The candy cane has been around for hundreds of years, in one form or another. Many people think of it as just another Christmas treat or tree decoration. It has not always been that way. The candy cane appears to have a rather intriguing history behind it.
It is believed that the very first candy cane was made in 1670 by the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. He gave each one of the younger members of the choir a white candy stick in an effort to keep them quiet during the Living Creche ceremony (Living Nativity Ceremony). These were not just ordinary candy sticks though. Rather than being the normal straight stick of hard candy, he had them made in the shape of a shepherd's crook, which was meant to symbolize the first shepherds who worshiped the newborn Christ.
Candy appeals to all age groups, but most especially to children. This is because the countless varieties of candy that are available in the market cater to almost all tastes and preferences. Given this popularity and mass appeal, selling candy has become a popular choice for a fundraising activity, as those who sell them are assured that people would buy their candy. In organizing these fund raisers, one of the most important things to consider is the source of the candy that would be sold because finding a reliable source of candy can lead to the success of the activity.
The average American consumes 24 pounds of candy each year. Most of these sweet treats are collected and enjoyed on major holidays. Americans spent more than two billion dollars on Halloween candy in 2011. That's more than 600 million pounds of sweets! They spend a bit less on Easter candy, around 2 billion, making it the second biggest candy consuming holiday of the year.
