Sweetest Day
Devote a day to your sweetest
Perhaps you have heard of the holiday, but have wondered, “What is Sweetest Day, anyway?” Most people know little about this observance, but would like to learn more, especially how to celebrate it.
The History of Sweetest Day
The origins of Sweetest Day trace back to the early 1900s in the Northeastern U.S. and the Great Lakes region, where candy companies and their employees distributed over 20,000 boxes of candy as a charitable gesture. On the first Sweetest Day, film star Ann Pennington gave out boxes of candy to over 2,000 newspaper boys in Cleveland, and popular star Theda Bara presented another 10,000 boxes of candy to the people in hospitals in Cleveland. This led to the establishment of a day to recognize a “sweet and special someone,” as well as friends and relatives, with kind gestures and small Sweetest Day gifts, most often of the sweet variety.
Sweetest Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in October, although it is more well-known in some areas of the U.S. than others. The top state in Sweetest Day sales is Ohio, followed by Michigan and Illinois, but the holiday is slowly spreading to other areas of the country. When people move, they tend to take the tradition of celebrating Sweetest Day with them and help to establish it in their new community.
Ideas for Celebrating Sweetest Day
Sweetest Day gift ideas include candy, flowers, poems and cards. Candy is probably the most popular gift; chocolate long-stemmed roses are a romantic and sweet idea that would be appreciated by any recipient. Some ideas for Sweetest Day poems are traditional love poems, or you can go to websites that will help you create a customized poem, complete with the name of your “sweetie” and other personalized details.
Ideas for a Sweetest Day gift for men include M&Ms in his favorite color and custom printed with a personal message (order in advance online at the M&Ms website) or a musical Sweetest Day e card, available at many online greeting card websites. For her on Sweetest Day, gift ideas include chocolate truffles, a bouquet of her favorite flowers or dinner out at a favorite restaurant. If schedules and budgets allow, a romantic weekend getaway can be the perfect way to celebrate Sweetest Day.
For friends and relatives, a card sent by mail or and e-card is a thoughtful gesture on Sweetest Day that will be very much appreciated.
