Whether you use them to decorate your Xmas tree or decompose your teeth, candy canes are KEY to your holiday. There’s more to them than just peppermint goodness, though:

These things are old as hell.

candy canes

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The first candy cane was made over 350 years ago.

The original candy cane was straight.

candy canes

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Borrrinngg. When bored, add Jesus.

There’s a folktale behind the shape.

candy canes

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In Germany in 1670, a choirmaster, looking to quiet noisy children in his church during a service for Christmas Eve, asked a local candy-maker for some sweet sticks so that he could justify giving candy to children during worship. He had the candy maker add a curve to the top of each stick, which would help children remember the shepherds who paid visit to infant Jesus.

The world’s largest candy cane measures at 51 feet.

candy canes

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Size doesn’t matter but it does. Don’t believe us? Check it out.

They initially required a fair bit of labor.

candy canes

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In the early ’20s, canes were bent manually as they came off the assembly line in order to create their J shape.

They come in a variety of colors and flavors.

candy canes

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Spell ICUP then say pretty colahzzzzz (’90s jokes, ha).

They weren’t born with stripes. They earned them.

candy canes

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Xmas cards before the year 1900 displayed only all-white candy canes, but xmas cards after 1900 showed illustrations of striped candy canes.

Over 1.76 billion candy canes are made each year.

candy canes

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That’s alottaaa dang cane. Straight facts.