The true origin of candy canes is hazy, mixing recorded history with a good amount of legend. Hard candy has existed for thousands of years. The expense of sugar made it a rare treat, shared on special occasions and holidays or as a reward for children’s good behavior.
Church records show that in 1670, a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany handed out white candy sticks to keep restless children quiet during Christmas services. The sweets took a long time to finish and kept little hands and mouths busy while they weren’t singing. Worried it might seem improper to give candy in church, he added the symbolic crook to recall the shepherds of the Nativity.
I can’t believe that kids were so basic back then that a stick of peppermint hard candy could shut them up for an entire church service.
They didn’t live in a world saturated in sugar. It was a very rare treat.
Also, depends on the ages here. A lot of 4 year olds can still be kept busy for a while by something like that. …If they haven’t been handed an iPad since they were 9 months old anyway.