Sweetest Day is Saturday and while we have always been skeptical of this seemingly faux holiday, we did come across one story about its origins that made us feel there might be something in it.
Some say that it was started by a Cleveland philanthropist who wanted to show orphans, invalids, and under-privileged people that they were not forgotten. He would bring them small gifts and sweets on this newly created holiday.
Others chalk up its creation to a syndicate of candy-makers and other businessmen. Either way, though, it seems like this weekend is a good time to make something sweet - for yourself or for others! Is there a sweet recipe you've been wanting to try out?
(Painting: Victorian Cake Series: Gooseberry, by Marty Walsh at Dart Fine Art)
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
My husband and I were married on Sweetest Day and didn't even plan it that way. We were living in California where it is not celebrated but planning the wedding in Michigan and every florist, caterer etc. that we called mentioned that Sweetest day was a very busy time for weddings and we were so lucky to get that date. We didn't even know! lol
view charlita's profile
We accidentally got married on Sweetest Day, too -- Oct. 18, four years ago, in Memphis. I don't think anyone mentioned it at all. Is it a northern tradition?
view Kelly H's profile
I had never heard about this holiday before about a week ago. Never in my life. I've heard that it might be a regional thing? More midwest than northeast? Either way, when you're 24 and encounter a holiday for the first time, it inevitably feels made-up.
view surplusj's profile
Northeasterner here, and once lived in the Pacific Northwest. Never heard of it until today.
view cmcinnyc's profile
I prefer Love Day.
view Jim of ChewOnThat's profile
Yeah, I've never heard of this (I'm from oregon). Please, tell us more. What happens? How do you celebrate? Are there cards for this holiday?
Coincidentally, I am making martha stewart's ghost cupcakes for my boyfriend tomorrow. I gave him membership to the cupcake-of-the-month club for his birthday, which means I make him a batch of cupcakes every month.
view brittanykate's profile
In Ohio, my parents were married on Sweetest Day, my best friend's parents were engaged on it. Our local Target stores in OH and Pittsburgh, where I live now, carry Sweetest Day cards.
It's celebrated kind of like a miniature Valentine's Day.
view Jeni_Rae's profile
Sweetest Day is big only in the Midwest, and there's reasonably good historic documentation that it started out more as a friendly appreciation holiday than as a Valentine's Day substitute.
Card makers started promoting it nationally in the 1990s, thus its reputation as a "Hallmark Holiday." Ironically, Halloween -- which we accept as genuine and ancient -- wasn't popularly celebrated in the U.S. until about the same period as the invention of Sweetest Day. (Sorry... I kind of wrote a book chapter on American holidays this past spring... too much crap in my head...) Sweetest Day needs a better press agent. :-)
view wende in the twin cities's profile
This holiday is mainly celebrated in the Great Lakes/Midwest states and is the equivalent to a 2nd Valentine's Day - cards, candy, engagements, flowers. I thought it was strange when I moved away from the Midwest (all those years ago) to find that other places didn't have it!
view charlita's profile
Wende--is the book (or chapter) out? I'd be interested in reading it.
view brittanykate's profile