How Sweet It Is

On October 17, 2020, we will observe "National Sweetest Day".  It is always observed on the third Saturday in October. Sweetest Day is one of the most confusing concepts in all of Northeast Ohio culture.  Most people living outside of Northeast Ohio have never heard of it, and most people living in Northeast Ohio can't tell you how it got started. 

It actually got started by the National Confectioners' Association in 1916 and was called Candy Day.  On October 14, 1916, candy shops around the country filled newspapers announcing their sweetest treats.  Originally designed to be celebrated the second Saturday of every October, the confectioners' convention in Detroit in May of 1916 made the final resolution.  Walter C. Hughes, the secretary of the National Confectioners' Association, encouraged Americans to patronize their local candy shops, bakers, and druggists for the sweet treats.  Early advertisements found in Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas newspapers mention the "Sweetest day of the year" in reference to Candy Day.  By 1917  war raged in Europe, and many retailers encouraged patrons to "Get one for yourself and one for the boys overseas!"  With the end of the war in 1919, sweetness returned to October and in fact Candy Day became an entire week and in 1923 the day became a full charitable swing.  Sweetest Day's theme of charity and giving became apparent in 1921.  At the time, four Michigan confectioners united with the Red Cross.  The four included the Detroit Retail Confectioners, Detroit Wholesale Confections Club, Detroit Jobbing Confectioners Association and the Michigan Confectioners Cub.  Together, they distributed thousands of bags of candy to hospitals, orphanages, shelters and homes across Michigan.  The celebration also included 100 regulation army target balloons, which dropped coupons worth a box of candy.

Sweetest Day was established in Cleveland in 1922 by Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveland, Ohio  candy company employee who decided to bring a little bit of happiness into the lives of orphans, shut-ins and others who were forgotten.  With the help of friends, he distributed candy and small gifts to Cleveland's underprivileged.  Two movies stars got into the act.  Ann Pennington presented 2,200 Cleveland newspaper boys with boxes of candy and Theda Bara gave away 10,000 boxes of candy to patients in Cleveland hospitals and to those who came to watch her film in a local Cleveland theater.

Observance of Sweetest Day is still most prevalent in the Great Lakes region where the holiday originated.  While Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin are the primary celebrators, Sweetest Day has spread throughout the country.  Texas, California, and Florida are among the top ten.  The holiday's popularity is growing so fast that American Greetings and Hallmark now produce hundreds of different greeting card designs for Sweetest Day, compared to only a handful of versions in 2000.

I can't think of a better time than now to share some sweetness with America and give a little  happiness  and thoughtfulness.  I think we all could use some!

We give you "Sweet Omen", the sugar cane fields on Kauai Island in the Hawaiian Islands.  The day was filled with passing showers, and we had just gone through one when the sun came out and treated us to this full rainbow!  Unfortunately we didn't the pot of gold at the rainbow's end!  But the perfect rainbow was beautiful!

These images are available in table top to wall sized, triple matted and with or without frame.  Matted versions are yours at a 10% discount and the framed matted versions in sizes 11x14 and larger can be yours at a 15% discount. Visit this website for available sizes and prices.

Stop by and see us on Monday through Friday from 10a.m. to 12 noon and 2:00p.m. to 5p.m.

The gallery is open for arranged Saturday appointments.  Call us at 904-387-8710 to schedule your special visit.  Come see us and order now.

"People who say "it's as easy as taking candy from a baby" have never tried.