It comes in various colors, flavors, and sizes that no kid
can resist; sticky and sweet cotton candy! Everyone has enjoyed this fluffy
treat at least once in their lifetime whether it be at a carnival, circus, or
at a fundraiser, but did you know this sugary treat was co-invented by a
dentist?
Four men invented fairy floss, now it is called cotton
candy, in 1899: Thomas Patton, Josef Delarose Lascaux, John C. Wharton, and
William Morrison. They debuted their cotton candy at the St. Louis World’s Fair
and sold 68,655 boxes of cotton candy for 25 cents a box! That totaled to $17,163.75,
which comes out to $411, 243.45 in modern day payment, which is quite a bit of
money for the 1900’s. Sugar used to cost about four cents a pound, so they were
practically spinning gold!
About 50 years later in 1949, Gold Metal Products invented
and launched a new type of cotton candy machine that was more dependable and
easier to use. From that point on cotton candy became a staple at any fair,
circus, fund raisers, etc..
Here are some sweet holiday fun facts to share with your family and friends during this festive time!
Candy Canes! 1.) Candy canes began as straight white sticks of sugar candy
used to decorated the Christmas trees.
2.) A choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral decided have the ends bent
to depict a shepherd's crook and he would pass them out to the children to keep
them quiet during the services.It wasn't until about the 20th century that candy canes
acquired their red stripes.3.) During the Christmas/Hanukkah season, more than 1.76 billion
candy canes will be made.
Holiday traditions! 1.) One of the pleasures of
Christmas morning for many children involves rooting through their stockings,
digging for Christmas candy. According to legend, the earliest stocking
stuffers included miniature bags filled with gold. Later stockings contained
five gifts---one to please each of the five senses. Fruit, nuts and, of course,
Christmas candies, were intended to please the sense of taste.
2.) Ribbon candy is a traditional Christmas candy
that goes back for centuries in Europe, though it is unclear exactly where the
candy was first created.
3.) The people of
Netherlands, who celebrate the holiday on December 6th, await the
arrival of SinterKlaas and his sidekick- Black Pete, who come by way of steamer
to leave candy and nuts for good little boys and girls who have filled their
shoes with hay and sugar for his horses.
4.) In Germany, Dec. 6 is
Nikolaustag, St. Claus day. On the eve of that day children leave out a shoe or
boot outside their door and the next morning candies and/or small toys appear
in them for those who have been good or else golden birch is placed next to the
sweets if they were bad.
5.) In Canada, people eat Christmas candies known as Barley Candy
and Chicken Bones. Barley candy comes on a stick and is shaped like popular
Christmas icons, including Santa Claus and reindeer. Chicken bones are made
from a pink, cinnamon-flavored candy wrapped around milk chocolate.
6.) In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated by bursting a piñata filled with
special Christmas candies. Knäck is a traditional toffee-like Swedish candy
that is usually made at home.
From all of us at SugarPop's, we hope you have a happy, safe, and sweet holiday!
