Are You Eating a Candy Cane the Right Way

Have you ever asked yourself Am I eating a candy cane the right way? Neither have I. I just assumed that everyone had the same idea when it came to which side to eat first. The National Confectioners Association (didn't know that was a thing), needed to know the answer to which way is correct. They ran a poll to see what most people do and the results, I believe went as expected. The NCA's methodology for the survey answers was an online survey of 1,500 people among different demos.

Let's start with the lowest percentage of people. 17% said they break their candy canes up into pieces. Excuse me? They must mean that the candy cane is already broken before they unwrap it or the have a habit of dropping the candy cane. No well meaning human being actually breaks their candy cane into pieces, unless they're sharing it. We already have a broken candy cane candy for the holidays. It's peppermint bark.

2nd was the people that start with the hook, or curve. Again, why? Are these people breaking the curve off to eat it? If they're not, then they're just running the straight part of the candy cane along their cheek the whole time. People have some weird kinks in this world. The percentage of hook eaters was 28%.

The largest and probably correct group is the people that start with the long straight end. It seems the most logical place to start, by the time you get to the curve it's easier. This percentage of people was 55%. An overwhelming majority of people start at the straight end. The real question that was not asked is how many people who start at the straight end form it into the sharpest point they can? The NCA needs to do a study on that. The people who like to live dangerously with their candy cane eating. One wrong move and that thing is ripping open the roof of your mouth or giving you an unwanted tongue ring. Prisons have probably banned candy canes because they could easily be made into a shiv.

The holiday season has arrived. It’s time to dust off your favorite Christmas books and find some new ones to enjoy this December.

A good read can be a great gift for a family member or friend, or it can be something to enjoy for yourself.

Adults and teens looking for holiday reading favorites might look for entertainment, nostalgia, or a love story.

Some Christmas books will tell a story about love that you simply won’t get in any Hallmark movie. Although most of the best Christmas stories have film, play, or musical adaptations, there are some things that jump off a page that the big screen just can't recreate.

New fiction books written for adults and teens come out every year. People looking forward to the big day have their pick of the litter. They should especially enjoy looking at yearly lists published every December.

Stories like A Christmas Carol and The Gift of the Magi account for some of the best literature in history. These two timeless tales (and many others) never go stale, and they're good for one read every December.

Some of the best classic holiday stories can ignite the magical feeling of Christmas for children. The legend of Santa Claus, of course, creates some of the most memorable Christmas narratives written for children. The stories of magical elves, a workshop at the North Pole, and the romanticization of snowfalls provided the perfect setting for The Polar Express and some Dr. Seuss classics.

Children’s Christmas stories can also communicate the message of lessons learned during a season meant for giving. Religious stories about the birth of Christ can go a long way toward teaching about the real reason for the season.

There’s a reason A Christmas Carol has stood the test of time since 1843. The literary classic about the incredible epiphany of Ebenezer Scrooge deserves every one of its countless written, film, and musical adaptations.

O’Henry wrote with his trademark irony in one of the most authentic love stories in literary history. Jim and Della selflessly exchange Christmas gifts that become useless in the most unexpected way. However, the reader can enjoy the deeper meaning of the scenario.

You might know the story of The Greatest Gift better from the film adaptation It’s A Wonderful Life. The 1943 short story of George Pratt’s contemplation of suicide might make you look at the world a little bit differently this Christmas.

You might think of a graceful ballet or a holiday decoration when hear about The Nutcracker. It actually originated as a short story in Prussia in 1816.

If you enjoy A Christmas Carol, you’ll probably enjoy a historical fiction novel about Charles Dickens writing the classic. Readers Digest complimented how readers can be “swept away by the old-timey Christmas feel” reading a book published in 2017.

It didn’t become one of the most popular holiday novels, but What Child is This won’t disappoint you. The novel tells the story of children from different family structures and how they view the world during the Christmas season.

You probably remember the suggestive leg lamp and the infamous bb gun, but have you read the original version from Jean Shepherd? The vignettes authentically capture the mischief, the friendship, and the emotion of a child at Christmastime.

If you’re looking for an emotionally moving read, try The Christmas Shoes. It’s based on the popular song by NewSong.

A child’s “dream” about a trip to the North Pole on Christmas Eve is just a fantasy, but just like the bell Chris brings home, it reminds children of the magic of Christmastime.

Is there anything more original than a child hearing “Twas The Night Before Christmas” before going to bed with dreams about the next morning? Sure, it’s technically a poem, but it’s one that no parent should skip.

Dr. Seuss was the king of creativity, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas goes down as one of his all-time best. The innocence of Cindy Lou Who stops the Grinch from a horrible deed in all-time great for readers of any age.

Let’s not forget why Christmas is a holiday. The original Christmas story belongs in the classic, adult, and children’s categories.