This Is Sweet! It’s National Candy Day

After a month-long build-up to Halloween, the candy-filled holiday has come and passed. Fortunately, for those who found that their sweet tooth has yet to be satisfied, you are in luck.

It’s Nov. 4, which means National Candy Day is here. What could be sweeter to celebrate this beloved holiday than by going all-in and shopping for your favorite sweets?

Candies have a long history of attracting us with their bright colors and great flavors. They also come in a variety of fun sizes and shapes. In the late 13th century, Middle English first began using the word candy. Borrowed from the Old French cucre candi, it is derived in turn from Persian Qand and Qandi, cane sugar. Candymakers coated nuts, fruits and flowers with honey. This method preserved the flowers and nuts or created forms of candy. Today, we still create these confections, but we typically use them as a garnish.

Originally a form of medicine, candy calmed the digestive system or cooled a sore throat. At that time, combined with spices and sugar, candy only appeared in the purses and the dishes of the wealthy.

By the 18th century, the first candy likely came to America from Britain and France. At the time, people made the simplest form of candy from crystallized sugar – rock candy. However, even the most basic form of sugar was considered a luxury and only attainable by the wealthy.