THE WORLD IS BEAUTIFUL

by **Paul** Sat 04 Nov 2023, 6:04 am

National Candy Day
These sweet and sour treats have been our favorite snack since childhood.

We hope your sweet tooth is ready, because November 4 is National Candy Day. These sweet and sour treats have been our favorite snack since childhood. Whether they’re hard, chewy, fruit flavored, or a “melt in your mouth not in your hand” sort of treat, candy has been a consistent source of happiness and, as we get older, nostalgia.

WHEN IS NATIONAL CANDY DAY 2023?

Candy is Dandy! Let’s celebrate National Candy Day on November 4!

HISTORY OF NATIONAL CANDY DAY

[size]
The story of candy begins in India. Between the 6th and 4th centuries BC, the Persians and Greeks learned that the people in India had, what they called, reeds that make honey without bees. These reeds were actually sugarcane, which is indigenous to Southeast Asia. Ancient Indians would boil sugarcane juice, turning it into individual pieces of sugar, which they called “khanda.”
Before sugarcane was domesticated outside of Asia, honey was used in ancient China, the Middle East, Egypt, Greece, and Rome to coat fruits and flowers, which would preserve them and turn them into a form of candy. Before the Industrial Revolution, candy was used as medicine to either calm the digestive system or cool the throat. In the Middle Ages, candy was mostly consumed by the wealthy and was made of sugar and spices to aid digestive problems, which were very common, as food was neither fresh nor balanced.
Candy first came to America in the 18th century from France and Britain. Very few colonists were skilled in sugar work, meaning only the wealthy were able to enjoy these new treats. In the 1830s, when the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, technological advances allowed candy to be accessible to more than just the rich, including a new market specifically for children. While some artisan sugar workers remained, candy stores were becoming an American staple, especially in the lives of children across the country. Penny candy became the first thing a child would spend their money on, and candy store owners relied mostly on the business of children and families to keep them running.

[/size]

CANDY BY THE NUMBERS

[size]
65% — the percentage of the total candy produced that is consumed by Americans over the age of 18.
65% — the percentage of U.S. candy brands introduced more than 50 years ago.
36 million — the number of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate that are sold on Valentine’s Day.
1800s — the period when physicians commonly prescribed chocolate to patients with broken hearts.
1875 — the year when Daniel Peter and Henri Nestle created milk chocolate.
2.8 billion pounds — the amount of chocolate consumed in the United States each year.
22 pounds — the average amount of candy consumed each year by Americans.
2 ounces — the amount of milk chocolate that is poisonous for a 10-lb puppy.
$7 billion — the amount spent on chocolate every year.
25 pounds — the amount of candy eaten per person per year in the United States.
2 — the number of Ms on M&Ms that stand for Mars and Murrie.

[/size]

NATIONAL CANDY DAY ACTIVITIES

[list="holiday-list holiday-list-celebrate"][*]

Buy candy for a friend

Give sweets to be sweet! Nothing says "Have a great day" better than a box of colorful candy.

[*]

Make your own

How about making your own candy for a change? Candy is made by boiling sugar in water or milk until it starts to caramelize. Find a recipe that strikes your interest and make it at home!

[*]

Try something new

We all have our go-to candies, but next time you're at the shop, try the candy you always look at but never actually pick up. It might be a new favorite.

[/list]

5 DANDY FACTS ABOUT CANDY!

[list=holiday-listicle__list][*]

Cotton candy’s original name

Fairy floss was the original name of the cotton candy.

[*]

Snickers was a horse

The Snickers candy bar was named after Frank Mars’ family horse.

[*]

Chocolate’s comforting properties

The ancient Aztecs believed that chocolate was an aphrodisiac.

[*]

Candy is healthy

Some candies such as gummy bears, lollipops, and sour balls are cholesterol-free, making them a healthy treat.

[*]

The Swiss love their chocolate

The Swiss consume more chocolate than any other country in the world.

[/list]

WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL CANDY DAY

[list="holiday-list holiday-list-loveit"][*]

It's delicious

If you've never had a king-sized Kit Kat bar or pack of Sour Patch Kids, then you haven't lived. Candy is great. End of story.

[*]

Childhood nostalgia

From crushing piñatas at birthday parties, to passing out Hershey's Kisses for Valentine's day, candy was a big part of our childhoods. No matter how much we grow, candy will always bring back those special memories.

[*]