Do You Know How Sweetest Day Really Started?

One of the first cities in the United States to celebrate Sweetest Day was Buffalo, New York, yet some people get confused: what is the difference between Valentine’s Day and Sweetest Day? 

There’s actually a big difference between the two, including how each of the holidays got their start. 

Valentine’s Day has been around for way longer than Sweetest, with the first Valentine’s Day celebration being held in the year 496. It is typically seen as a celebration of romance, whereas Sweetest Day can express love or appreciation towards anyone. 

This Sweetest Day is a very special one, as it marks 100 years since the first official celebration of the day. Many people believe that it started in Buffalo, and while we are one of the first places to celebrate Sweetest Day, we are not credited with its origin. 

Legend has it that a man named Herbert Birch Kingston distributed candy to the orphans and poor folk around the Cleveland, OH area. He was an employee at a local candy company at the time, and Kingston just wanted to share a smile. 

After talking to the owners of a few local candy shops in Western New York, they informed me that the origin of Sweetest Day (specifically in Buffalo) began as a way for local business owners to bring in some more customers during a month that is historically low with foot traffic. That’s why Sweetest Day found its home in the month of October, and it became more popular when Hallmark jumped on board with Sweetest Day cards. 

The initiative was a huge catch, though, and tons of people jumped on board to express their appreciation for friends and family members. It’s also a day to spread kindness, and in the City of Good Neighbors, we are no stranger to that. 

You can celebrate Sweetest Day by getting candy from one of your favorite locally owned candy shops! From classic milk chocolate bars to sponge candy and more, you can choose whatever candy you would like when it comes to expressing your love and appreciation for others. 

If you need help deciding on which candy shop to choose, take a look at the top 10 candy shops in Western New York for Sweetest Day.