Candy Cane Christmas Tree Ornaments

Candy canes are a wonderful part of the Christmas season. Here is some background information about them as well as some ideas about how to use them to decorate your Christmas trees. Lots of people have given religious meaning to the shape and form of the candy cane. It is said that its shape is like the letter "J" in Jesus' name. It is also in the shape of the shepherds' crook, symbolic of how Jesus, like the "Good Shepherd" watches over his children. It is a hard candy, solid like a "rock", the foundation of the Church. The traditional flavor of peppermint is similar to the hyssop. In the Old Testament hyssop was used for purification and sacrifice, and this is represents the purity of Jesus and the sacrifice he made. The white of the candy cane represents the purity of Jesus and his virgin birth. The bold red stripe represents God's love. The three fine stripes are said by some to represent the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Here are three ideas for incorporating candy canes and the candy cane shape into your tree decorations.

LifeSaver Candy Cane Ornaments

Ingredients (to make one)

4 pineapple lifesavers and 4 cherry lifesavers

(You can buy these lifesavers in packages (Five Flavour) and can make them in any

color you choose.)

Materials Needed

Cookie sheet covered in parchment paper or tin foil

1½" cut from a plastic drinking straw

6"-8" coloured ribbon or ribbon

How to Make

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.

2. Arrange the eight lifesavers into the shape of a candy cane, alternating between the two colors.

3. Bake for 3 to 6 minutes, until candies are melted.

4. Remove from oven.

5. Make a hole in the "top most" candy by pressing the drinking straw piece into the ornament, leaving it there until the candy has cooled.

6. After the candy is completely cool, gently remove the straw and thread the ribbon or yarn through the hole to hang the ornament.

Note: Prepare only one ornament at a time on each baking sheet as they may melt into each other. Be careful to not over-bake.

Candy Cane Heart Ornaments

These are easy to make and are very beautiful additions to any Christmas tree.

Materials:

2 candy canes for each heart

(1 box will make 6 hearts)

5" long piece of ribbon (curling ribbon works great)

1 small decoration for top of heart such as; an old button, bow, curly ribbon, lace, silk flower, berries, dried rose, glitter, even a wrapped peppermint hard candy

Low temp glue gun

Directions:

Lay everything out on a clean, flat surface. Plug in your glue gun, while it warms up lay the candy out to see how best they fit. Use a small dab of glue at the bottom of the canes then glue the top where they meet. Allow to dry, add hanging ribbon and glue final touches.

Candy Cane Street Signs

Materials:

Candy canes or candy cane sticks.

Card Stock

Markers

Glue

Ribbon

White Glitter

Small green felt holly leaves

Red mini pom pom berries

Directions

1. Cut out a notched sign shape from your card stock. With your black marker, write "North Pole" on the sign shape. Glue the sign shape onto your candy cane or candy cane stick.

2. Next, glue on small green felt holly leaves and red mini pom-pom berries. If you like, add dabs of glue, then sprinkle on white glitter for snow.

3. Finally, glue both ends of a 5-inch piece of ribbon to the back of the signpost for a hanger and let the glue dry.