Sweetest Day, October 18, 2014

Sweetest Day observed the third Saturday in October.  I frankly had never heard of this holiday till a few years ago.  I do a great deal of research these days so I had to find out just how this day originated.

It is amazing how a simple search can lead to such interesting reading.  Now the most popular story is that Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveland, Ohio philanthropist and candy company employee started Sweetest Day. He wanted to bring happiness to orphans, shut-ins and under-privileged. His intent was to show these people that they were not forgotten.  In 1922, he started this holiday by giving candy and small gifts. He often used movie stars to distribute the gifts.

Primarily a regional observance celebrated in the Great Lakes region and the Northeast, Sweetest Day is gradually spreading to other areas of the country. Over the years, Sweetest Day has evolved into a time to express romantic love and also to show appreciation to friends. 

There also seemed to be those that feel the day was a concentrated marketing promotion sponsored by the candy industry. At the same time that Sweetest Day was being promoted in Cleveland, it was also being promoted nationally by the candy industry as "Candy Day" and "Sweetest Day." Promotions were staged in New York City, Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, Cincinatti as well as in Cleveland, Ohio.

I think it should not matter whether the day was created by one individual or an industry. It exists as an opportunity for you to recognize that sweet and special someone. It doesn’t matter who that person is, or what their relation to you. They just have to be "sweet" in order to get a little recognition.

Remember the simple fact is it does not matter if you recognize that special individual in your life on Sweetest Day and you can make every day is Sweetest Day.

Keep Dancin’ Larry B