Peppermint is associated with Christmas due to peppermint candy canes, which were commonly given to children during the holiday season, and often hung in Christmas trees as decoration. This has gone on for generations and the sight of candy canes is a reminder of Christmas tide to most people.

Why were children given candy canes for Christmas ? All we have is several legends, and the beginning of most of them claims that sometime back in the 17th century in Germany a local priest wanted to find a way to keep children quiet during Christmas mass. So he came up with the idea of giving the kids candy canes to soothe their sweet tooth, and keep them busy.

A variation on this legend claims the bend in the candy cane was produced for this occasion, to remind children of the shepherd’s crook in the Nativity story. A different variation claims the bend came much later, and was just a way to keep the canes on the Christmas tree.

Yet another version claims that the canes’ colors were meant to signify the purity (white) of Christ, and His sacrifice (red). However red food dye was a bit difficult to obtain if you were not nobility or had the money for it. It’s very likely that the red stripes were added later. The green stipes are definitely a modern addition, and those are done by some companies to separate their mint candy canes from non-mint candy canes.

The main reason candy canes are made with peppermint is tradition, nowadays. Starting from the old version of candy canes that was supposed to pacify rowdy kids during Christmas religious gatherings, virtually everyone how expects candy canes to be peppermint. 

Source: Foodiosity