National Candy Day Date in the current year: November 4, 2024

Candy is a confection that features sugar or (less common) honey as the main ingredient. There also exist sugar-free candies made with sugar substitutes. Candies (also known as sweets or lollies) are typically made in small pieces and eaten casually as a snack. Unlike other confections, they are not served as a dessert. It is noteworthy, that each culture defines the difference between candy and dessert in its own way. The same food may be considered a candy in one culture and a dessert in another.

The word “candy” came into the Middle English from the Old French and began to be used in the 13th century. In the Middle Ages, candies were very expensive and available only to the most wealthy families. Back then candies were made with sugar and spices and used to relieve digestive problems. Thanks to the Industrial Revolution candies become available to everyone. Special machines allowed to produce candies of different shapes, sizes, and colors.

To celebrate National Candy Day, treat yourself to your favorite candy. Just don't go overboard as eating too much sugar can cause cavities, a rapid rise in blood sugar, and some other health problems. But if you only indulge yourself with candy every now and then, nothing bad is going to happen.