MDBCs 21 Oct 2023

It is unclear what the unknown creators of this unofficial holiday aimed to do. Maybe they wanted people to count the buttons in their button stash or count the number of buttons on their shirt? Or perhaps they hoped that people spent the day counting buttons on the electrical appliances they come across on this day?

Decorative and Practical

Buttons have been part of human fashion since antiquity. Until the 13th century, however, buttons were used mostly for decoration and as jewelry and were made out of sea shells, bones and ivory. Buttons as a way to attach two pieces of fabric together came about in Europe in the 1200s - the first button maker's guild was formed in 1250 in France.

In the late 1800s, buttons became a way to proclaim one's political loyalty - a trend that is still going strong in the United States. The first political button was issued at the inauguration of President George Washington in 1789. Today, buttons with candidates faces and logos are worn by supporters during elections.

How to Celebrate?

Start a button collection. There are many different types of buttons and some vintage buttons are actually priceless.
Count all the buttons in your sewing kit.
Why not celebrate the day by making sweet treats that look like buttons?

Did You Know…

…that Charles Dickens wrote an article in 1852 on the art and science of button making, titled What there is in a button.

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Sweetest Day

The third Saturday in October is celebrated as Sweetest Day in parts of the United States.

The unofficial holiday was started in 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio as a way to encourage women to treat their male romantic partners with sweets and candy.

Boosting Business

It is thought that the holiday, which is now popular in parts of Northeastern and Midwestern United States, began as a way for confectioners to boost their business. On the first Sweetest Day, on October 10, 1921, a committee of 12 candy makers distributed sweets and candy to orphans and senior citizens and encouraged people to do the same.

Older Origins

The idea for having a special day to promote candy consumption actually came about a few years before. In 1916, the National Confectioner's Association invented a day called Candy Day to be celebrated on the second Saturday of October. Unfortunately, the First World War overshadowed any such celebrations and the day failed to take off.

Valentine's Day for Women

Over the years, Sweetest Day has become a romantic holiday, where women are encouraged to buy candy and show romantic gestures towards their male partners. Many people consider the day as the reverse of Valentine's Day, where historically men have been expected to do romantic things for their female partners.

10 States

Sweetest Day is not a nation-wide holiday—only people in a handful of cities, including Buffalo, New York; Detroit, Michigan; and Cleveland, Ohio celebrate the holiday.

How to Celebrate?

With candy, of course! And remember, you do not have to have a significant other to share or give candy to. You can also treat yourself or your friend to some of their favorite candy.
Make candy from scratch at home and share with your co-workers, family, and neighbors.
Learn the history behind your favorite candy and sweets.

Did You Know…

…that Halloween, one of the most important holidays for candy companies, was not a big candy holiday until the mid-1950s?

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My sister-in-law was teaching Sunday school class. The topic for the day: Easter Sunday and the  resurrection of Christ. “What did Jesus do on this day?” she asked. There was no response,  so she gave her students a hint:  “It starts with the letter R.”

One boy blurted, “Recycle!”

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Halloween is the beginning of the holiday shopping season. That's for women. The beginning of the holiday shopping season for men is Christmas Eve.

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It’s New Year’s Eve, and the restaurant is hopping—revelers, band, overworked waiters. Wending his way through the crowd is a drunk, staggering back to his seat. Spotting an attractive woman sitting alone, he says, “Pardon me, miss, did I step on your feet a few minutes ago?”

“Yes,” she says testily, “you did.”

“Good! I knew my table was around here somewhere.”

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I used to love the candy Nerds, but I stopped eating them when I realized that for me, it was basically cannibalism.

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In fourth grade, my son had a huge crush on a classmate. So for Valentine's Day, he bought her a box of chocolates and took it into school. When I returned home from work, I found him on the couch eating the same box of candy.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Well, I thought about it for a long time," he said between chews. "And I decided that, for now, I still like candy more than girls."

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