One thing I enjoy about Christmas are the legends and stories written about objects that pertain to the birth and life of Christ…..and how simple people find a way to honor and symbolize their faith. One such story is The Legend of the Candy Cane.

A humble man wished to use his candymaking art to make a Christmas gift for Christ that came straight from his heart. First he shaped the candy into a shepherd’s staff, a “J” to stand for the name of Jesus, who was born on Christmas Day. He used white stripes to symbolize Jesus’ virgin birth, and His sinlessness and purity during His time on earth. Finally, he colored the candy with stripes made out of red, to represent the scourging and the blood that Jesus shed. He had created the Candy Cane, to remind us during this season that Christmas is a sweet gift of love…Jesus is the reason.

When the candy canes are faced together, they form a heart……to show how much God loves us.

Of course, the poems that have endured over the years as classics in Christmas cards are not only heart warming but leave us with warm “fuzzies.” One such poem that says it all for me is by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The wrong shall fail the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men!”

Till, ringing, singing on it’s way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther