According to legend, a candy maker wanted to invent candy that was a witness to Christ. First, he used a hard candy because Christ is the rock of all ages. This hard candy was shaped so that it would resemble a "J" for Jesus, or turned upside down, a shepherd's staff. He made it white to represent the purity of Christ. A red stripe was added, representing the blood Christ shed for the sins of the world. The three thinner stripes represent the stripes He received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped Him. The peppermint flavor is similar to hyssop, used in the Old Testament for purification and sacrifice. Jesus is the pure lamb of God, who came as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Share the legend and celebrate Christ.