Last Updated on October 28, 2022 by Jim Edwards
Celebrated on November 4th, National Candy Day is a day that all candy lovers look forward to. It is a day to unleash all your sugary whims and live them to the fullest. No worrying about your diet or anything else, indeed, National Candy Day seems like a page taken from a children’s story book! Let’s do a deep dive into National Candy Day and learn how to celebrate it.
Contents
History of Candy
The origin of candy can be traced back to India. The Persians and Greeks discovered that a special type of stalks grew in India that could make honey without bees between the 6th and 4th centuries BC. The stalks were actually sugarcane, a Southeast Asian native crop. Sugarcane juice was boiled and turned into individual bits of sugar known as “khanda” by ancient Indians.
At the time, before sugarcane was domesticated outside of Asia, the people in ancient China, Egypt, the Middle East, Rome and Greece honey would use honey to coat flowers and fruits in order to preserve them and transform them into a type of sweet.
Candy was primarily used as medication before the Industrial Revolution to either soothe the digestive system or cool the throat. Candy was largely used by the wealthy in the Middle Ages, and it was made of sugar and spices to help with digestion problems, which were widespread at the time because food was neither balanced nor fresh back then.
Candy made its way into America from Britain and France back in the 18th century. Because few colonists were proficient in sugar production, these new delights were exclusively available to the wealthy. In the 1830s, when the Industrial Revolution was at its peak, technological advancements made sweets available to people other than the wealthy, and birthed a new market devoted solely to children.
Candy stores were becoming increasingly common in America and also one of its biggest attractions, especially in the lives of youngsters across the country. Candy was the first thing any child would buy with their pocket money, as such, kids and families were the main source of business for a candy shop owner.
How to Celebrate National Candy Day
National candy day is not just about stuffing your face with your favorite sugary delights, but it is also about giving, sharing, and bonding with your loved ones and other fellow confectionery enthusiasts. Here are a few ways you can celebrate the National Candy Day:
Make Your Own Candy
One of the best ways to engage with the art you love so much is to understand the process that goes into it. As such, making your own candy is one of the most meaningful ways to celebrate the national candy day. Add your spouse or partner into the ingredients and turn your cooking session into a romantic evening with your loved one.
Cooking a batch of candy may appear to be a challenging process, but the task is simple and generally only involves boiling sugar in milk or water until it caramelizes. Furthermore, with the entire internet at your disposal, you can access recipes and how-to guides for people of various culinary skill levels. You’ll find classic candy recipes as well as some innovative ideas that may have not even crossed your mind before, so you’re sure to find something that suits your palate!
Moreover, with plenty of room for experimentation, you can let your creativity run free and get inventive with your candy, try to discover a new taste, appearance, texture, or all of them.
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Buy Candy for a Friend
As the great saying goes “Sharing is Caring,” to celebrate the national candy day, you could embody this spirit of sharing and buy a box of your favorite candy and gift it to a friend, neighbor, colleague, or even just a random confectionery enthusiast you may have met at the candy shop.
Take this opportunity to brighten up people’s day and mood, after all, nothing says “Have a great day” like a box of mouth-watering chocolates.
Try Something New
If you’re a hardcore cany fan but also a reluctant one who hasn’t quite gotten around to trying out new candies or flavors that have piqued your interest, the national candy day would be the perfect occasion for you to do so.
Head out to your local candy store and try out all the candies that may have intrigued your taste buds due to their packaging or manufacturer. You could also try to forage around for uncommon candies that you have never seen or heard before, such as some Mexican varieties. You’ll find such candies in specialist candy stores and, maybe even on Amazon, that sell unique and unusual candies that you won’t find in your typical supermarket. Take this opportunity and take your taste buds on a wild ride, exploring new flavors and candy manufacturers!
Remembering Some of the Greatest Candy Inventions
With the industrial revolution in full swing, there were many advancements made in the confectionery industry. Candy shops opened and an entire market of candy targeting the young-aged demographic was developed. Here are some noteworthy inventions you should know about:
- Oliver R. Chase developed and patented the first candy press machine in the United States in 1847. The invention of this machine allowed for the production of various lozenge shapes.
- Confectioners started employing a revolving steam pan to help boil sugar in 1851.
- The first cotton candy machine was invented in Nashville by John C. Wharton and William Morrison in 1897. Fairy Floss was the name given to the fluffy puffs of spun sugar at the time.
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Some Unforgettable Candies
There is no shortage of candies in the confectionery world nowadays. However, many decades ago, there were only a few options that pioneered the sugary world we live in today. Let’s take a look at some of them:
- M&Ms
Following the Spanish Civil War, Forrest Mars, Sr. and William Murrie created these milk chocolate drops with the colorful candy covering in 1941.
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
These spherical chocolate discs are packed with sweet, creamy peanut butter filling were initially created by Hershey’s in 1928.
- Mars Bar
Invented and named after Forest Mars, the first Mars bar was manufactured in England in 1932. The chocolate is a bar of nougat and caramel coated with milk chocolate.
- Hershey’s Kisses
These are conical shaped bite-sized chocolates introduced in 1907 by the Hershey Company. Often known as flat-bottom teardrops, the chocolates come wrapped in aluminum foil.
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November 4th Is Celebrated as National Candy Day on This Day in History
November 4th is National Candy Day, so I hope your sweet teeth are ready. These sweet and sour treats have been our favorites since childhood. Whether it’s hard, sticky, fruity, gooey, or a delicacy that melts in your mouth instead of your hands, sweets are always a source of happiness and you’ll only feel nostalgic as you get older.
Summary
National Candy Day is a day meant to not only fulfill your sweet and sugary desires, but it is yet another occasion for sharing and spreading joy and happiness among your loved ones. That being said, get your wallets ready as November 4th approaches and don’t forget to let your inner sugary fanatic of a child out to play!
The National Candy Day – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is There an Official Candy Day?
Yes, there is, 4th November is officially recognized as the National Candy Day.
What Is the Number 1 Selling Candy?
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and M&Ms are the two main contenders for being crowned the number 1 selling candy.
How Do You Celebrate Candy Day?
You can celebrate national candy day by making your own candy, trying out new candies, or by gifting candies to your loved ones. You can celebrate any way you want to!
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I’m Jim Edwards and I started this website to share my love of Junk Food. We cover new junk food, desserts, snack foods, fast food secret menus, candy (of course!) and other related news. We love trying “secret menus” at restaurants. And we love trying new products too. So, we are trying to have some fun with our hobby and share some useful information with you, our community. Please feel to send us your suggestions and feedback through the contact form. And if you have products you would like us to try, let us know…!
