• The beloved candy cane was originally intended only for
children. Made in the form of a shepherd's crook, the canes were
first introduced to the French court of King Louis XV in the
early 18th century. They were used as something of a bribe to
keep children quiet during lengthy Christmas church services.
The candy sticks were made in alternating red and white colors
to recall the red of Jesus' sacrificial blood and the white of
both purity and the fallen snow. • While the French were busy
with candy canes, the Americans capitalized on the gift wrap
market. Greeting card tycoon Joyce C. Hall of Hallmark is
credited with introducing modern-day gift wrap. In December
1917, a Kansas City Hallmark store sold out of the traditional
red and green tissue paper used for wrapping gifts. To satisfy
holiday demand for wrapping papers, the store offered customers
decorative, printed envelope-lining paper instead. The sheets
sold quickly at 10 cents each. By Christmas 1918, Hallmark was
charging 25 cents per sheet. • The