Guess I've mentioned this before, but I will mention it again - Snohomish County Antique Study Club meets the 4th. Wednesday of every month (unless otherwise advised) at Snohomish Public Library, 1st Street & Maple. ( The East end of our Main, or 1st Street - a block W of the Starr Mall). It consists of a tidy group of females, and males, who have their formal meeting, followed usually by a Show & Tell, &/or a Talk by one of the group, or an Outside Speaker - expert in their forte' . Highly interesting and friendly group. We come from all over the area, King, Snoho., Skagit, et al counties, I would say. Come, if you are interested - sit in on meetings, as I did - then you can decide if it is for you, or not. If you decide to join, the dues are $10. ( I need to pay mine!)/yr. Ea meeting we have coffee, tea, goodies and most of try to get to the mtgs. early, soz we can chat, and brag about our "finds" or whatever. Some even talk genealogy, too - a strange language, but enjoyed by more than we realize. Recently, we have added time to sell items at the mtg. as some have items they are willing to part with, so sell or trade can be interesting, too.) This mo's. bulletin for the Nov. mtg. included a story that I would like to share with you. The author was not mentioned, so that is anonymous. The story may, or may not, be the true origin of a familiar item that we see at Christmas time, but perhaps further research may be in the offing for an alternative explanation. Here, then, is this one: QUOTED FROM THE SCASC Bulletin as follows- A CANDYMAKER'S WITNESS A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be witness so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church and firmness of the promises of God. The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J' to represent the precious name of Jesus, who cam to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray. Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. END OF QUOTED STORY OF THE CANDYCANE VIA SCASC Bulletin for Nov 1998. Perhaps there are other Stories about the inception of the candy cane, or other items we use to celebrate Traditions of Christmas over the millenium out there. I recall those days when we had no electric lights, but burned candles in the special holders which were clipped to the branches in such a way that they would not tend to set the tree on fire. I recall that, when in the kitchen, there would always be someone who would stand by the doorway to make sure that those candles didn't set fire to the tree! I vaguely recall only one incident in which we scurried to douse de glim, post haste! I still have manged to keep the electric train from 1931 that traveled around the tree ( & sometimes around the whole room, if sidetracked) - Today, I realize how lucky I was to have owned a train in those days - depression days - American Flyer, with The Golden State coaches, including baggage/postal/passenger, and observation cars. My kids crushed the tunnel after it had become their "horse" when they were very small to realize. But, I still have the excellent lighted Station, and the Semiphor that signaled when the train was coming down the track. What memories! (Long term ones!). Carroll of Snohomish. ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]