This is the actual story of why candy canes were made the way they still are made today. The lady who invented the candy cane, Kandi Kayne, wanted to make a candy with multiple uses. For example, she wanted to create a candy that could drag gumdrops from across the table. That’s why candy canes have a long stick-like figure and a hook on the end. She also wanted something that would remind her of the North Pole or the barbershop, hence the original design of white with red stripes. And another thing that she also found to include in the candy cane is the feature of being able to sharpen it to a point by sucking on the stick-like part long enough. She also found it comforting that you can get it sharp enough to pop a balloon, which she used it for very frequently. This was said to be false and it not really possible, but proven to be true by scientists. She also made the texture perfect, so for example, if you wet it, it gets sticky enough to pick up small objects, such as lint or a sunflower seed. She also made miniature ones so you can hide them in a Christmas tree and no one will eat them all on you. She even made them out of peppermint candy instead of fruit candy, which was more popular at the time. She did this so if you were sharpening yours or in the middle of popping balloons and someone came in, you could easily bite of a piece to freshen your breath quickly and effectively. Many probably didn’t know this, but this woman’s life was actually saved by this versatile candy. She later told of her life-threatening situation to the newspapers and magazines. She said a thief broke into her home and held her at gunpoint while he loaded the candy maker’s goods into a large potato sack. She was weaponless and had no idea what to do. Then she slowly stuck her hand into her pocket, trying not to let the intruder notice. She then said that she only had one item in her pocket, one of her candy canes. She flung in toward the robber and it hit him in the eye. The burglar dropped his gun, and she grabbed it and held him at gunpoint until police arrived. Now aren’t you glad you know the real meaning of the candy cane.