Sweetest Day: Buy the Candy and Gifts but Give it to the Unfortunate

Some 85 years ago a man by the name of Herbert Birch Kingston had an idea to bring smiles to the faces of young children in Cleveland, Ohio who were orphaned, poor, or not all but forgotten. Mr. Kingston was a candy employee and with the help of friends began dispersing boxes of candy and little gifts to these children on the very first "Sweetest Day" which is officially known as the third Saturday of the month in October, which this year would be the 20th.

In 1922 Ann Pennington who was a popular movie star at the time gave out boxes of candy to around 2,200 newspaper boys in Cleveland to show them appreciation for all their hard work. As it progressed, others joined in like another movie star Theda Bara who gave out over 10,000 boxes of candy to people in the Cleveland hospitals and everyone who came to the local theater in town to see her films.

Since this time the idea has turned into nothing more than Valentine's Day in October or as the industry tends to call it "The Hallmark Holiday" exclaiming that the only reason Sweetest Day is around is to boost candy, flower, and jewelry sales at the slow time of the year. According to American Greetings 44% of people that were involved in their survey believed that Sweetest Day was simply created by a greeting card company. Which is understandable since the majority of people celebrate it as another V-day as opposed to the original idea behind it.

Since Sweetest Day is primarily in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, the only other way you may celebrate it is if you were introduced to it from someone that moved from one of these areas to where you live, or you saw it on the internet. Last year Ohio was recorded as having the highest sales for the holiday. So if its your first time celebrating it or you have for years, this year I propose you talk to your loved one or the person you celebrate it with and give to someone less fortunate even if its not a child. Then of course if you haven't celebrated it for the simple reason that its a ridiculous holiday, now you have a new and true reason to celebrate it. Just think not only will it be less expensive, the stress and headache to "Get It Right" will be nothing.