Do You Celebrate The Sweetest Day In The Year?

A Fun Holiday To Show You Care

Wacky holidays abound, but this October Saturday is a chance to show someone your appreciation. Something between a Thanksgiving day for individual and Valentine’s day for special people.

Third Saturday In October is Sweetest Day

For those who don’t have enough special occasions to commemorate, one of the more obscure Holidays is the one that celebrates “the sweetest day of the year”.

It deserves to be better known and observed since it is the day set aside to simply show your appreciation for the unsung heroes of your life. We could use more of that! Those people who are special to you might have another holiday, like “Mother’s Day” or “Valentine’s Day”, but this one is the 3rd Saturday in the month of October to…

honor sweethearts, close friends, relatives or employees with special gift of something sweet.

You can simply tell them how important they are no other reason than that you appreciate them on this day.

What is the story behind this celebration?

Have You Heard Of This Holiday?

Sweetest Day

Always observed on the third Saturday in October.

Something Sugary

Whose idea was it, anyway?

Primarily celebrated in the Great Lakes region and in the Northeast, not surprising since it was the brainchild of Cleveland, Ohio philanthropist Herbert Birch Kingston. Working for a candy company, he came up with an idea to sweeten the lives of of orphans and other people who were overlooked or forgotten.

Some actresses of the time were encouraged to take up the banner and the idea caught on.

Some skeptics say that a group of candymakers thought the whole thing up. However it may be, It is an opportunity to do something sweet for someone who you believe deserves it.

Ohioans Love To Celebrate This Holiday

Ohio is the top state for Sweetest Day sales, but other states also have a showing, including Michigan and Illinois. Texas, California and Florida.

Due to the association of affection, candy, and flowers, it has also become a romantic holiday to remember ones “Sweet Heart”. Like a second Valentine’s Day… so you get another chance to give someone the message that you love them. It originally was simply a day of appreciation for the persons of your choosing. Think of it as sort of a “random kindness” day.

An Appreciative Message

Super cute idea to use: Get a matchbox, paint it and print your message on top with markers. Fill the inside with a miniature diorama that reminds you of them. Or just their favorite jelly beans!

Students Explain It All for You

Why Celebrate Another Holiday?

Isn’t this one very similar to Valentine’s Day, when romance reins supreme?

Actually the beauty of this holiday might be in the fact that it isn’t about romancing the woman of your dreams. It could be a whole lot more about a man who is especially sweet.

It could be about that extra nice neighbor who does favors for you, and always has a smile and a wave.

We don’t have to make all gift giving about a romantic relationship, and that isn’t what the idea was for this one.

Have An Hour For Learning about the Science of Sweetest Day?

Fresh, Delicious Chocolate

See’s Candies 1 lb. Chocolate & Variety

Have you ever tasted this confection? See’s brand is widely available and tastes wonderful. Freshly made with quality ingredients.

My first taste was during Christmas season at one of their booths in a mall, but you can order them anytime online.

Should I Buy Something?

Ideas for Sweetest Day Gifts

You get to buy something, because you appreciate someone.

You could give the object of your appreciation and gratefulness a box of chocolates, or a special cupcake, or you could make something yourself.

That is the beauty of something sweet- it doesn’t have to come tied with a bow, you can bake, make, or send anything that you believe will make their day “sweeter”.

I do think a card is nice, and it costs very little in cost or time.

Sprinkles, Cupcakes, and Pink, Oh My!

Without The Calories

The trouble with some of these holidays is the way they wreck havoc with the diet, but substituting something you wear for something you eat may be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Don’t worry about the calories for these cupcakes, candies, and sweets, they are beautiful little reminders of how sweet you think your Sweetie really is, in clever jewelry designs just right for a gift on this holiday.

CHOOSE JEWELRY

It isn’t hard to celebrate this day without ruining your diet. Let’s forget that the whole idea of this holiday was to get people to eat more candy. Instead, make it something unexpected and memorable with a pretty necklace or a pair of earrings in a fun theme of bakery goodies or their favorite fall sugary delight.

What makes this holiday special?

It’s a day to make others feel special.

Customize a Card

Sweetest Day Cards from Zazzle

Just for Today

Here is one of the creative cards that can be found on Zazzle. Or you could design your own for a really unique card that has high quality paper and printing.

Too late for this year? Consider making one, anyway, you can always send it next year.

What about appropriate quotes for your cards?

Say something sweet inside

Quotations for the day, add them to your custom card.

The best portion of a good man’s life – his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love. ~William Wordsworth

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~Leo Buscaglia

The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. ~William Penn

How beautiful a day can be

When kindness touches it!

~George Elliston

Life is mostly froth and bubble,

Two things stand like stone,

Kindness in another’s trouble,

Courage in your own.

~Adam Lindsay Gordon

A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives roses.

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. ~Jean Baptiste Massieu

 

Praise the bridge that carried you over. ~George Colman

 

Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart. ~Henry Clay

One of my Favs, too

These are hard to find! This would be my mother’s idea of the sweetest gift ever. She delighted in that little taste of liqueur inside a chocolate.

A variety of liqueur flavors.

Some Gift Ideas

If you decide to single out one person to show your appreciation to, think about their interests or something that would make their job more enjoyable. If they have helped you through their expertise you can get something as simple as an electric pencil sharpener, or something as extravagant as a leather computer bag. Or something in between!

For her:

Truffles to die for.

For him:

A cool computer bag or phone accessories

Or vice-versa

For the Gardener:

Seeds, hand lotion – Especially in “Sweet Pea”

For a Birder:

A special treat for their birds, “bird egg” chocolates

For an Artist:

A small sketchbook, art pin, artistic chocolates

Which candy treat would you give?

Nostalgic Memories Of Oldtime Dimestore Favorites

Hometown Favorites 1980’s Nostalgic Candy Gift Box, Retro 80’s Candy, 3-Pound

Do you have memories of old fashioned favorites, the kind of candy that you enjoyed as a child? Share the delight you experienced with someone you appreciate on the third Saturday of October this year.