Candy Cane 4

Did some further checking, and found Mr. Reilly's suggestion was unique, in that it's both a usurped symbol AND tradition. Candy canes started out as solid-white, arrow-straight sugar treats. They took on their more traditional appearance in 1670, when the choirmaster of the Cologne Cathedral decided to bend one end (either to represent the letter "J" and/or signify the "Shepherd's crook"). Peppermint stripes were also added (possibly with a nod to hyssop, used in the Old Testament for sacrifice and purification), with the occasional fine three-stripe variety added to represent the "trinity" (the two-color deals were said to represent the "virgin" birth and God's love). Candy canes made their way over to America in the 1800s (sans the European modifications), but were later changed around during the early twentieth century. A list addition I find fascinating and extremely telling.