Sweetest Day

The third Saturday of October has come and brought for us the Sweetest day. It is often claimed that this celebration was proposed by Herbert Birch Kingston, a philanthropist and candy company employee but some argue it was an idea of economist and writer Murray Newton Rothbard. However, everybody believes that the Sweetest day originated in Cleveland in the third decade of the XX century.

Following by the most spread version, observance of this day began in the third Saturday of October, 1922. Herbert Birch Kingston wanted to bring happiness into the lives of orphans, shut-ins and others who were forgotten. He and a few friends began to distribute candy and small gifts to the underprivileged.

There are some stories that on the first Sweetest Day movie star Ann Pennington presented 2,200 Cleveland newspaper boys with boxes of candy to express gratitude for their service to the public. Another popular movie star, Theda Bara, distributed 10,000 boxes of candy to people in Cleveland hospitals and also gave candy to all who came to watch her film in a local theater.

After a year more Clevelanders began to participate in the celebration ceremony and the day got the name of the "Sweetest Day". The idea was soon widened by giving gifts not only to the underprivileged but to everyone. A custom of giving some little present to others on the Sweetest Day spread all over the country.

Till nowadays Sweetest Day has evolved into something similar to Valentine's Day, but not so widely celebrated. However, a vast majority of small presents such as greeting cards, candy, and flowers are gifted on this day.

You can find some Sweetest Day greeting cards here. And my gift for You will be the song of Danielle Peck: