Who can resist a handful of sweet Jelly Beans on National Jelly Bean Day? Well on April 22nd each year, you really don’t have to resist at all. As a celebration, enjoying them is a must!
Although, Charlie, David and I will pass as none of us like Jelly Beans. But if my moms parents were here they would like to have Black and Red Jelly Beans.
When ever you went into there home there was always a bowl of Jelly Beans out. The question is who would eat them because it wasn’t me, my sister or even my brother.
While candies are made in a similar manner existed before the Jelly Bean, Boston confectioner William Schrafft made Jelly Beans popular during the Civil War. With their firm exterior, Jelly Beans were the first candies sold by the pound. Schrafft encouraged his customers to send them to Union soldiers.
In the 1930s, Jelly Beans became closely associated with the Easter holiday thanks to their egg-like shape. However, confectioners make Jelly Beans available all year long now. There’s no excuse not to enjoy Jelly Beans if you have a craving for them at any time.
The 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, enjoyed jelly beans so much they were present at his inauguration. Mr, Reagan started eating Jelly Beans when he quit smoking years before.
The Herman Goelitz Candy Company supplied red, white and blue jelly beans for the 1980 event. At the time, the company didn’t produce blue jelly beans but they created a Blueberry Jelly Bean for the first time, especially for the inauguration.
Five facts to know about Jelly Beans
- They were President Reagan’s favorite candy. Did you know he used Jelly Beans to help him quit smoking when he was the governor of California.
- Each year in the U.S, there are 16 billion Jelly Beans manufactured just for Easter. Which is enough to circle the Earth more than 3 times if they Jelly beans were laid end to end.
- Jelly Beans are associated with Easter because of its egg-like shape.
- In the early 20th century, “jelly-bean” was slang for a man of style and no substance. I didn’t know that. Did you?
- Jelly Belly’s were the first candy to be sold by weight rather than by piece.
Fun Fact:
The first Jelly Bean was created by an unknown American candy maker in the 1800s. An 1861 advertisement recommended sending Jelly Beans to soldiers fighting in the Civil War.
The original eight flavors of Jelly Belly beans introduced in 1976 were Very Cherry, Root Beer, Cream Soda, Tangerine, Green Apple, Lemon, Licorice and Grape. If I was to eat a Jelly Bean I would choose Grape. Charlie would pick Root Bear and David Cream Soda which is his favorite Soda. How about you and why?
Jelly Belly Beans were the first Jelly Beans in outer space when President Reagan sent them on the 1983 flight of the space shuttle Challenger.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalJellyBeanDay
I would like to tell you to enjoy a handful of your favorite Jelly Bean flavor and share on Social Media using #NationalJellyBeanDay. But since we don’t care for JellyBeans I think I will purchase some and take them to my mother in law and her and Charlie can share.
As well as print out this postcard for Granny Sherry and David Sr. Don’t forget you can also download and print the Jelly Bean postcard on 5.5 x 4.25 cardstock. The color the postcard and mail it or take it to someone you know would enjoy getting mail today.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
