MDBCs 19 Oct 2024

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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I answered a 911 call at our emergency dispatch center from a woman who said her water broke.

"Stay calm," I advised. "Now, how far apart are your contractions?"

"No contractions," she said breathlessly. "But my basement is flooding fast."

***

A motorist was driving down a rural dirt road when he came upon a stream. He called out to a man walking by, "Do you think I can drive my car through the stream?"

"I suppose you can," said the man.

So the driver started across, but within seconds, his car sank, and he barely escaped with his life.

"You lied to me!" the driver screamed at the passerby. "That stream is at least ten feet deep!"

"That's funny. It only reaches up to the middle of the ducks."

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Once there was a guy named Bill who wanted a horse. On Craigslist, Bill saw a Christian horse so he went to check it out. When Bill got to the ranch, the horse's owner said "It's easy to ride him. Just say 'praise the Lord' to make him go, and 'amen' to make him stop."

Bill got on the horse and said "praise the Lord." the horse started to walk. "Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord" and the horse is running.

Now Bill sees the cliff and says: "AMEN."

The horse stops and Bill says: "Whew! Praise the lord!"

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None of my grandsons share my corny sense of humor. When the family is eating lasagna, I say, “Lean over your plate, boys. You’ll get  less-on-ya.”

I say to the ten-year-old, “Don’t yell through the screen; you’ll strain your voice.”

And when I took another grandson to the zoo, I asked, “Do you know why that snake’s not pressed against the glass? He doesn’t want to be a windshield viper.”

They’ll probably laugh later.

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