On November 4th, we celebrate the sweet holiday, National Candy Day. Candies have a long history of attracting us with their bright colors and delightful flavors. They also come in a variety of fun sizes and shapes.

Candy History

In the late 13th century, Middle English first began using the word candy. Borrowed from the Old French cucre candi, it is derived in turn from Persian Qand and Qandi, cane sugar.

People use the term candy as a broad category. We treat candy bars, chocolates, licorice, sour candies, salty candies, tart candies, hard candies, taffies, gumdrops, marshmallows, and much more as candy.

However, sugar was not always readily available. So instead, people made the first candies from honey. Candymakers coated nuts, fruits, and flowers with honey. This method preserved the flowers and nuts or created forms of candy. Today, we still create these confections, but we typically use them as a garnish.

Originally a form of medicine, candy calmed the digestive system or cooled a sore throat. At that time, combined with spices and sugar, candy only appeared in the purses and the dishes of the wealthy.

By the 18th century, the first candy likely came to America from Britain and France. At the time, people made the simplest form of candy from crystallized sugar – rock candy. However, even the most basic form of sugar was considered a luxury and only attainable by the wealthy.

Since 1979, the world has produced more sugar than can be sold, making it very attainable and cheap. 

Candy Inventions

With the advent of the industrial revolution, many advances improved the availability of sugar. By the 1830s, markets opened, and the candy business underwent a drastic change. Not only did the price of candy drop, but penny candies targeted children.Advertisement

• 1847 – Oliver R. Chase invents and patents the first candy press in America. The Boston inventor’s creation made making different lozenge shapes possible
• 1851 – Confectioners begin using a revolving steam pan to assist in boiling sugar.
• 1897 – William Morrison and John C. Wharton from Nashville invented the first cotton candy machine. At the time, the fluffy puffs of spun sugar were called Fairy Floss. 

Unforgettable Candies 

• M & M’s – Forrest Mars, Sr., and William Murrie developed these milk chocolate drops with the colorful candy coating following the Spanish Civil War. They stamped the new candy with the initials of their surnames. In 1941, they debuted the candies, and soon after, American soldiers serving in the Second World War received them as part of their rations. 
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – Hershey’s company first manufactured these round chocolate disks filled with sweet, creamy peanut butter filling in 1928.
• Christmas Candies – These hard candies come in the shape of ribbons or lozenges (thank you Oliver R. Chase!) and add a sweet, colorful memory to the holiday season. 
• Necco Wafers – Despite being chalky and not too sweet, this candy still tops many people’s lists.
• PEZ – Not only does this tiny candy hit the sweet spot, but it also comes with a dispenser that often represents other iconic and inspirational characters.
• Lifesavers – Another hard candy, this sweet circular lozenge with a hole in it finds its way into mom’s purse and the stocking hung on the mantel.

More to explore….

• National Candy Month
• Chocolate
• Milk Chocolate Day
• World Chocolate Day
• National Carmel Day
• National Nougat Day
• English Toffee Day
• Butterchrunch Day
• Salt Water Taffy Day
• National Carmel Month
• National Candy Cane Day
• National Jelly Beans Day
• Chocolate Mint Day
• National Pralines Day
• Candied Orange Peel Day
• Peanut Clusters Day
• National Gum Drops Day
• Chocolate Covered Cherries
• Chocolate Covered Everything
• Peppermint Patties Day
• Hard Candy Day
• National Cotton Candy Day
• National Candy Day
• Trick or Treat
• National Candy Corn Day
• Sweetest Day
• National Licorice Day
• Sour Candy Day
• Lollipop Day
• Peanut Brittle Day
• Trail Mix Day
• Gummy Worm Day
• National Chocolate Candy Day
• Candy Cane Day
• Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
• National Bittersweet Chocolate Day
• National Truffles Day
• National Dark Chocolate Day
• National White Chocolate Day
• Chocolate Carmel Day

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalCandyDay

Four days after Halloween, you should be able to celebrate this day. Either you have leftover candy or can sneak some of your kid’s stash to celebrate. You can also scan the sales of Halloween candy at your local stores. Or, invite some friends to enjoy their favorite candies with you! While you’re celebrating, be sure to use #NationalCandyDay to post on social media.