The origin of Sweetest Day is disputed. A widely accepted theory is that in 1922, a candy-store owner in Cleveland named Herbert Birch Kingston wanted to remember people in the city who were underprivileged and less fortunate. He distributed candy and chocolates to many of the area hospitals and orphanages (possibly with the help of film stars Theda Bara and Ann Pennington). A second theory is that a committee of 12 candy makers in Cleveland, led by C.C. Hartzell, gathered together in 1921 and came up with the idea. According to Wikipedia the committee delivered 20,000 boxes of candies and chocolates to the less-privileged in the city, with assistance from film stars Theda Bara and Ann Pennington. This theory is supported by an article in the Cleveland newspaper Plain Dealer published on October 8, 1921. Other theories propose that the holiday was created by greeting card companies in order to sell more candy and cards, but this is highly unlikely from large amounts of evidence suggesting otherwise.
Many people who celebrate Sweetest Day live in the northern Midwest, in states such as Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York. However, the holiday is gaining more attention every year. Although the original purpose of Sweetest Day was to remember the less fortunate, in some ways it has morphed into a secondary Valentine’s Day. In this way couples exchange chocolates, cards or candy to show appreciation for their romantic interest. It can also be a day where people appreciate a relative, or someone who has had a meaningful impact on their life.
Sweetest Day is a floating holiday, and always falls on the third Saturday of October.
| Day Name | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | October 15 | 2011 |
| Saturday | October 20 | 2012 |
| Saturday | October 19 | 2013 |
| Saturday | October 18 | 2014 |
| Saturday | October 17 | 2015 |
Send candy or cards to a local hospital, orphanage or shelter
Remember someone or show appreciation for someone who has made a positive impact on your life