If you want to eat a pink grapefruit, blood worms, and swallow your snot all in one handful, you’ve come to the right holiday.  It’s National Jelly Bean Day!  And, if I have my cult classic correct, we have Harry Potter to thank for making earwax, rotten eggs, and vomit editable (I use this term loosely).

Although they date back to the 1860’s, I couldn’t find anyone who knew how or why these candies were invented.  However, this little usually fruity snack has made its way from American candy dishes to American culture.  Jelly Beans are used everywhere, from the classroom to baby showers.  It is even listed in the dictionary and apparently, jellybean art is a thing.   Pictured here, is jelly bean fanatic, former President Ronald Reagan.  This portrait hangs proudly in the Reagan National Library and is made of 10,000 jellybeans and polyurethane.  Don’t eat it.

I’m not the jelly bean eating type, never have been, but I do enjoy guessing the number of jellybeans in a jar, putting them in plastic eggs for Easter, and throwing them across the room into other people’s mouths.  You can celebrate today by doing any or all of the above.  You can also play the jellybean board game or use them to teach your kids math, art, and science.  I mean seriously, who knew sugar and dye could do so much?  If you know who or find out who, please let me know.  I’d love to discover a secret patent that proves I should be a millionaire.  Until then, enjoy a stinky sock and …

HOLIDAY ON MY FRIENDS!

jellybean – noun 1) A gaudily dressed man; faddish dresser (1919+), 2) A stupid person; fool; sap: The jelly beans I went to school with(1915+), and 3) A novice; rookie (1950s+ Baseball)