The container of candy canes sits on my kitchen counter. It presents many moments of temptation for the little ones who pay visits to our home. It's red and white colors add a festive touch to the food vignette I display each Christmas.

Like many traditions, it can come and go without a thought about it's origin, or why it was created.

I read this piece yesterday and it refreshed my mind as to the meaning of these little red and white candies.

"The Candy Maker's Story"

White candy canes have been used to decorate Christmas trees for centuries, but it was not until the early 1900's that the red stripes were added.

The charming story of how a candy maker used the candy cane to symbolize Christ's love is a sweet way to remind your children of the true meaning of Christmas.

~The white part of the candy represents the purity of Jesus.

~The red stripes remind us of Christ's death on the cross.

~The crook at the top looks like a shepherd's staff and helps us remember that shepherds were the first to hear about the Savior's birth.

~Turned upside down, the candy cane looks like the letter J. symbolizing the first letter in Jesus' name."

~taken from the book, "A Keepsake Christmas" by Alice Gray and Susan Wales

Special little reminder of a most popular candy dominating the store shelves this month.