empty that bag on the table....

 empty that bag on the table...

  Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year in several countries including the United States, England, Ireland, and Canada.  Mexico and Latin American Countries laud All Souls Day which begins October 31st and lasts several days.

  The Halloween tradition began with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (Saa-wn) which is a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. 

  Some Christians don't honor Halloween because they believe the holiday is associated with Satanism or Paganism.  Orthodox Jews don't celebrate the day either because of its origins as a Christian holiday.  Jehovah's Witnesses do not observe any holiday or birthday.  There are no doubt others who will not revere Halloween.

  So, what does that do for all other Americans who want to follow Halloween customs?  Well, for one, it means more carbs in our bags!

  HUH?  What's up with that? 

  According to atlanticmonthly.com.....It wasn't until the late 1940s that trick-or-treating became widespread on a national scale in this country. 

  For the most part, the reward for trick-or-treaters in the United States is candy. In some countries, money is the premium.

  But, oh my, how many carbs are produced for Halloween week!

  Quoting tropicalfoodsandcandy.com,....the days leading up to Halloween account for 600 million pounds of candy being sold in America.  That translates to two-billion dollars!  Halloween is the single largest candy sales time in any 12 month period.  

  Making candy is a simple process. We could do it at home.  Just dissolve water in sugar.  The different heating levels determine the types of candy: Hot temperatures produce hard candy, medium heat will make soft candy, and the chewy stuff?  Cool temperatures.  

  And, what kind of candy would be the first choice of most people?  Chocolate accounts for way more than half of all Halloween sales.  

  But, as you might imagine, there is a top seller in candy sales during this colorful time, and it's probably not your first choice today.......Candy Corn (would you believe Candy Corn is the most searched candy in Googleland?).

  Although they weren't the first to introduce Candy Corn, the company that now owns Jelly Belly was among the first to sell the sweet in the 1880's.  Brach's has taken over the Candy Corn business and produces seven billion pieces every fall.   

  But, what's popular after Candy Corn?  As expected, chocolate candy takes over.

  Snicker's (#1 chocolate bar year round), Reeses, Kit Kat, and M & M's are the next biggest sellers.  

  But, popular or not, there are some interesting story lines behind some of your favorites and some not so favorites.

  There were a lot of rock candy manufacturers beginning in 1880.  It was also sold as a cough-cold remedy and strangely enough, huge quantities were sold in saloons.  It seems every bar had their creation of rock candy and rye to cure what ailed you.  Hard to imagine going into any pub today and asking for a Rock and Rye, though it has a certain rhythm.

  Prohibition ended the popularity of rock candy and only a few makers of the once-popular sweet still exist.  Of the original manufacturers, only a company called Dryden and Palmer is still around.  

  Salt Water Taffy was invented in the 1880's at a candy store on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. Two of the original stores that sold Salt Water Taffy 140 years ago are still open on the Boardwalk.

  Tootsie Rolls debuted in the late 19th century.  They were named after the inventor's daughter.

  Tootsie Rolls were one of only a couple candies added to soldier's rations during WWII because of their durability in all weather conditions.  M & M's were also part of those rations.  

  Dum Dum's were invented in 1924 by an Akron, Ohio candy company.  The mystery flavor in the middle is always a mix of two flavors created when the machine switches to producing a new flavor.  

  There are always fascinating tales related to the rich and mega-rich of our society.  Candy manufacturing legends like the Mars family, Milton Hershey and others are no exception.  

  

  Forrest Mars, Sr. was the driving force behind Mars candy.  According to Fortune.com, he introduced Milky Way (1923) and Mars (1932), and M&M's (1941).  He also was the brains behind the launch of Uncle Ben's Rice.

  Mars got the idea of M & M's from a European candy maker and produced his own version.  The iconic, white, lower-case m printed on every piece began in 1950 and the brown wrapper is the original envelope.  

  Mars died in 1999 and left an estimated 25 billion dollars.  The self-made billionaire was described as domineering and possessed a volcanic temper.  

  Scarred by years of criticism that was spurred by Forrest Sr.'s fear his children would be raised spoiled, his two sons forbid Mars executives from mentioning their father's name in their presence when they took over the company.

  Ironically, Mars Sr. would not allow his children to eat candy.  

  The Mars heirs made a decision in the early 80's that would haunt them the rest of their lives.  

  Steven Spielberg wanted his fictional character, E.T. to eat M & M's in his science fiction fantasy back in 1982.  The Mars brothers thought it would be a bad decision, so the movie director ordered Reese's Pieces to be featured.  Sales skyrocketed and for a while, Reeses took a huge share of M & M's sales.  

  Mars Sr.'s penchant for secrecy in life followed him in death.  No details of the cause of death or his  funeral arrangements were ever given to the press following his passing.  

  HEATH Bars are now made by Hershey, but that's not how the storied brand started out.  

  Two brothers, Bayard and Everett Heath invented the candy in 1928.  Their dad, L.S. Heath, owned a dairy and combination ice cream parlor/candy shop in Illinois.  

  For the first few years, local consumers could have HEATH Bars delivered with their milk.  Then in 1932, the brothers slowly began marketing their candy bar internationally.  

  For the first 14 years, HEATH Bars were made by hand using a copper kettle, stirring paddle, marble slab and a rolling knife.  

  Hershey bought the brand in 1996.  Being a toffee lover, one can only imagine how good the original HEATH Bars must have been back in the day.   

  Milton Hershey failed several times as a caramel manufacturer, before he finally succeeded with his idea of making caramel with fresh milk.

  It was while he attended the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago he saw a European chocolate company producing their confection.  He bought the equipment when the exhibit closed, sold one caramel factory for one-million dollars, converted another factory to handle chocolate and within six months, he was on his way to even more success with a product called a Hershey Bar.    

  A secondary Hershey's product, Hershey's Kisses produced in 1907 became almost as popular as the candy bar. 

  The candies were hand-wrapped for many years until a machine came along that could do the process including the signature plume.  Where the name came from went to the grave with Mr. Hershey.

  Hershey and his wife did not have children, but were philanthropists their whole lives.  They gave away millions of dollars and started the Milton Hershey School for low-income children. The school is a cost-free, private, co-residential school and home in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  

  Although CoVid-19 has altered many plans for this Halloween, hopefully Trick-or-Treating is a custom that will endure.  

  Going back a few decades, the ritual went like this on Halloween Night for the four George boys.   

  Dad would be sitting at the kitchen table waiting for us to return with our bags of candy.  All four sons walked into the kitchen as he said, Here, empty that bag on the table.  

  Each of us would dutifully empty his candy bag on the table for dad to cherry pick.   It didn't do any good to protest his choice(s), because each of us knew it was a done deal.  We only hoped his selections were few and that he wouldn't choose our favorites.  

  Confidently, others will have such an outstanding memory.  

  Coming up.  We'll hear from some office workers who now call home their workspace.  And, we've got more Encore Performer's stories to share with you.

  Remember the scene in The Wedding Planner where Matthew McConaughey tells Jennifer Lopez he only eats brown M & M's because they are better for you?  Summarizing, he said the brown ones are the same color as chocolate, so less food dye.    

  The irony?  Brown M & M's are made with the same food dye as the rest.  Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40.  Not so in Europe though.  All coloring is achieved naturally through the use of lemon, red cabbage and radish extracts.  

  HUH?  What's up with that?