National Candy Cane Day is celebrated on December 26, right after Christmas. This day highlights the iconic red and white striped candy often associated with the holiday season. Originally shaped to represent a shepherd’s crook, candy canes were created in the 17th century. They were made with sugar and peppermint flavor, which has since become the most popular variety. National Candy Cane Day is an opportunity to enjoy this festive treat, learn about its history, and share candy canes with friends and family.
December isn’t just about candy canes. Other sweet days this month, like National Egg Nog Day and National Cookie Day, offer more chances to satisfy your seasonal cravings. National Candy Cane Day lets you extend your holiday joy with one more taste of this minty favorite.
When Is National Candy Cane Day Celebrated?
If you’re ready to mark your calendar for this sweet celebration, here’s when National Candy Cane Day will take place over the next several years. Be sure to enjoy it alongside other December celebrations like National Date Nut Bread Day and National Chocolate Covered Anything Day for a truly festive season.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | December 26, Thursday |
| 2025 | December 26, Friday |
| 2026 | December 26, Saturday |
| 2027 | December 26, Sunday |
| 2028 | December 26, Tuesday |
| 2029 | December 26, Wednesday |
| 2030 | December 26, Thursday |
Fun Facts About Candy Canes
Candy canes have been around for centuries, but how much do you know about their history and evolution? There’s more to them than just their festive colors. From the legend behind their creation to how they’ve become a staple during the holidays, these facts are sure to sweeten your appreciation for the classic candy cane. Let’s explore a few interesting tidbits:
- It’s widely believed that candy canes were first made to resemble shepherd’s crooks, symbolizing the shepherds who visited baby Jesus.
- Peppermint wasn’t always the go-to flavor. The earliest versions of candy canes were simply sugar sticks without any added flavors.
- The red-and-white stripes we associate with candy canes didn’t appear until the 20th century; before that, they were plain white.
- The world’s largest candy cane, created by Chef Alain Roby in 2012, measured over 51 feet long and broke his previous record. Crafted during the annual Geneva Christmas Walk in Illinois, this massive candy cane drew crowds and earned a spot in the Guinness World Records. Roby, known for his giant candy creations, often uses these projects to support local charities.
Ways to Celebrate National Candy Cane Day
National Candy Cane Day offers plenty of opportunities to get creative with this holiday treat. You can snack on them directly, add them to recipes, or use them for creative projects. Here are a few fun and easy ways to celebrate:
- Bake with crushed candy canes by using them as a topping for cookies, brownies, or even ice cream.
- Stir a peppermint candy cane into a warm cup of hot chocolate for an extra holiday twist. Or pour yourself a a candy cane Martini!
- Repurpose leftover candy canes into creative decorations like tree ornaments, wreaths, or DIY gifts.
- Spread some joy by handing out candy canes to friends, family, or even strangers as a small, thoughtful treat.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
