It’s National I Love Reese’s Day

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Take time to enjoy a Reese’s peanut butter cup today, Monday, May 18 in celebration of National I Love Reese’s Day. 

According to reports, the holiday is observed every year on May 18, and was created by the “Hershey Company” in 2010 to celebrate the all-time favorite candy known as ‘Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.’ The company sponsored an online petition, which was signed by 40,000 fans who deemed it fit to give Reese’s its own special holiday. Since its creation by H.B Reese in 1928, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have been a favorite in America. In fact, the candy tops the list of best-selling today.

The month of May was chosen because of its position between March and July, during which National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day and Chocolate Day are respectively celebrated.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup was created by Harry Burnett Reese — a former employee of the Hershey Company. In 1917, Reese began working on a dairy farm owned by Hershey but later began working at the company’s candy factory during the 1920s. During this time, Reese began making candy in the basement of his Hershey home.

The chocolate Reese used in coating his candy was supplied by “The Hershey Company.” His candy-making business became so successful, that he resigned from Hershey and founded the “H.B Reese Candy Company” in 1923. However, he maintained a close relationship with his former employer. Reese’s candy company succeeded in creating a wide variety of candies but his famous Peanut Butter Cups weren’t produced until 1928. These ended up becoming his best-selling product. They were nicknamed ‘penny cups’ as they were sold for only a penny apiece.

When Reese passed away in 1956, his company passed to his six male children. However, in 1963, they sold the “H.B Reese Candy Company” to “Hershey’s Chocolate Company” for $23.5 million in stock. Those shares are now worth more than a billion dollars.