I am an ambassador for the company NationalDayCalendar.com and what I love about the company is that they keep us updated with every national day. The main reason why the information is important to me is because national days are opportunities to show thoughtfulness. Since National Candy Day is on November 4th, I checked out their website to see if I could relate to the theme of “candy” day. Jackpot! Nationaldaycalendar.com is loaded with great information about candy.

When we hear the term “candy” we know that it encompasses so many types of treats. From gum to cotton candy to hard candy to chocolate to fruit chews etc. There are too many varieties of candies and it would be hard for me to name every type. As long as we know that the common denominator for all types of candy is the sweet component then we are on the same page. Remember, even bitter, sour and salty candies are sweet. And SWEET is the key word as to why candy makes excellent thoughtful pinches.

A popular way to show someone we’re thinking of them is by giving them something sweet. For instance, Valentine’s Day is a holiday when we give our sweet hearts some candy. Here are a few other reasons why we might give someone candy on any given day. We know that candy is:

• Convenient - Candy is something we can stock up on and it can be ready to be given away as a last minute gift. Usually the shelf life is pretty long because candy doesn’t perish easily.

• Inexpensive - Budgets for candy pinches can start as low as a quarter. With candy, as long as the message we’re sending is that we are thinking of someone, it doesn’t matter how much it costs. I think about the Werther’s commercials when the child is given one round hard candy and they feel so special.

• Accessible - Lots of venues sell candy and typically, they carry a wide variety of favorites to choose from. Vending machines, gas stations, grocery stores etc. make it very easy to buy candy. See’s Candy and Godiva may take a little more effort to get to but so worth it.

• Cheerful - Many of us usually associate candy with joyful occasions or a celebration. For example, eating chocolate anything while on a girls’ trip is definitely a celebration. Or we’ve experienced a time when we have felt down and candy cheered us up quickly.

• Creative - With candy as a gift, we can be very creative. The skies the limit. Candy can be the main gift or a small amount can be added to “sweeten” the bigger gesture.

• A Crowd Pleaser - Lots of people like candy so it’s hard to go wrong with giving candy as a gift. For instance, I have avoided milk and dark chocolate for years (see this link for my reason why). However, I am still very happy when people give me chocolate candy because it’s the thought that counts. Besides, there’s a very good chance that someone in my family will happily eat it.

By listing out the above reasons why candy is an awesome thoughtful pinch, I hope I didn’t insult anyone’s intelligence. None of the information is news worthy. However, what I’m trying to impart is that sometimes, it is NOT really about the gifts. Rather, being thoughtful is the reason we give gifts in the first place. And according to National Day Calendar, it’s why we celebrate every day. So when we review all the benefits of candy, it’s so easy to share and spread joy on this national day.

Below, I have recapped some of the great information that I found on the Nationaldaycalendar.com site regarding National Candy Day in hopes that you too will find something you can relate to. Maybe you will be inspired to share with someone you care about.

1. When sugar was not so accessible back in the day, people would use honey as the sweet ingredient for candy.

2. Long ago, candy was a form of medicine and it was used to calm the digestive system or soothe a sore throat

3. Candy came to America from Britain and France as rock candy, which is crystallized sugar.

4. Nationaldaycalendar says, “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.

5. Nationaldaycalendar also says, “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – Hershey’s company first manufactured these round chocolate disks filled with sweet, creamy peanut butter filling in 1928.”

6. The oldest candy company “… is found in Salem, Massachusetts. The Ye Old Pepper Companie started in 1806 when Mary Spencer arrived in Salem after a shipwreck. She began peddling a rock candy called “Salem Gibralter” (incidentally the first candy sold commercially in the U.S.) from church. Her son sold the company in 1830 to John William Pepper. Then in the early 20th century, George Burkinshaw purchased The Ye Old Pepper Companie (then called the George W. Pepper Companie) and renamed it. It’s been operated by the same family since.” per Nationaldaycalendar.com.

7. Besides being served as an emergency food source in the World War 2 troops’ rations, chocolate was morale booster.

It’s not a coincidence that National Candy Day is 4 days after Halloween. Hopefully we already have a stash of candy waiting to be used for celebration. Maybe we can do something creative and thoughtful for someone else. All I’m saying is the opportunity to do something sweet on Candy Day is waiting for us!

Pinches,

Barb