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Origins and Facts About Sweetest Day
Observed the 3rd Saturday in the month of October, Sweetest Day
observance originated in Cleveland in 1922. Herbert Birch Kingston, a
philanthropist and candy company employee wanted to bring happiness into
the lives of orphans, shut-ins and others who were forgotten. With the
help of friends, he began to distribute candy and small gifts to the
underprivileged.
On the first Sweetest Day, movie star Ann Pennington presented 2,200
Cleveland newspaper boys with boxes of candy to express gratitude for
their service to the public.
Another popular movie star, Theda Bara, distributed 10,000 boxes of
candy to people in Cleveland hospitals and also gave candy to all who
came to watch her film in a local theater.
Primarily a regional observance celebrated in the Great Lakes region and
the Northeast, Sweetest Day is gradually spreading to other areas of the
country. People tend to take the Sweetest Day tradition with them when
they move. Ohio is the top state for Sweetest Day sales, followed by
Michigan and Illinois. Texas, California and Florida are among the top
10 states in sales.
Over the years, Sweetest Day has evolved into a time to express romantic
love and also to show appreciation to friends.
Here are some great ideas for
gifts for Sweetest Day
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