Every year when Santa visits your home and puts the candy canes on your tree, before you throw them out, think of the horses! That’s right, horses love candy canes, the peppermint to be specific. From the moment I take the candy cane out to the barn, then start to unwrap the cellophane off the candy cane making a crinkle sound, my horses are front and center waiting for the delicious treat.
If you are wondering if they are good for horses, let’s just say in moderation, they aren’t bad for them! Plus the candy cane has a healthy shelf life of a good 3 years…but with horses enjoying them, that will never happen! If you time it perfect you can get the boxes of candy canes on sale after Christmas. A few years ago I did time it perfect at a cost of ten cents per box. I left the store with a grocery cart of 100 boxes for a whopping ten dollars! We were enjoying those for a year! My friends and family are also a great source for excess candy canes for my horses enjoyment
.Here’s some fun facts on the candy cane…
- The original candy cane had a shape different then the modern day design. It was straight, all white, and hard.
- A candy cane turned upside down reveals the letter J, which many believe represents Jesus.
- National candy cane day is celebrates on December 26 in the United States.
- The first candy cane was made over 350 years ago.
- According to folklore, in 1670, in Cologne, Germany, the choirmaster wishing to remedy the noise caused by children in his church during the Christmas Eve service, asked a local candy maker for some sweet sticks for them. In order to justify the practice of giving candy to children during worship services, he asked the candy maker to add a crook to the top of each stick, which would help children remember the shepherds who paid visit to infant Jesus.
- The first historical reference in America to the candy cane dates back to 1847. A German immigrant from Wooster, Ohio decorated his Christmas tree with candy canes.
- The red and white striped candy canes were first made around 1900.
- The traditional candy cane flavor is peppermint, however, it is also made in a variety of other flavors and colored stripes.
- Over 1.76 billion candy canes are made each year.
This Christmas when you go out to see what Santa left in the barn for your horse, take a candy cane along for a great treat! I guarantee your horse will love it!
If I were a horse... 