National M&M Day
About National M&M Day
When is National M&M Day? This holiday is always celebrated on October 13
Nowadays, there’s a holiday for just about everything imaginable. So, it is only logical that we celebrate the cute little hard-shelled M&Ms. Today is National M&M Day. On this October 13 holiday, we can eat as many of these sweet and chocolatey little guys as we want. Even if you are on a low-calorie diet, you can have a couple, can’t you? The trouble is, once you eat one or two, how do you keep from consuming a handful or two? Of course, you can’t stop.
As the marketing slogan says: “They melt in your mouth, not in your hands”. Carry them in your hand on a hot day, and they still do not melt. Of course, if it’s hot enough any candy will melt. But, these amazing little candies are the toughest guys on the beach or in a hot car. While this is a great feature for candy to have, it’s not the biggest reason we all love M&Ms. Rather we love the rush of chocolate flavor when we bite into each and every little piece.
What’s your favorite M&M color? The basic colors are: brown, blue, yellow, red, orange, and green. Every package has 13% each of blue, brown, and green. And, it has 11% of orange, red, and yellow. Mars Candy Company, makers of M&Ms, offer no explanation for the percentages. Over the years, Mars Candy Company has made M&Ms in 50 different colors. Some are retired, while others are still on the market. The original candy has a semi-sweet chocolate filling. Currently, there are 63 different kinds of M&Ms. This includes several different kinds of nuts, and several kinds of chocolate.
National M&M Day Trivia and Fun Facts
Here are some interesting M&M Trivia and Fun Facts:
- The name M&M comes from Forrest E. Mars Sr (founder of Mars Company) and Bruce Murrie (son of Hershey Chocolate’s president William F. R. Murrie).
- Original sales were packaged in a cardboard tube.
- Mars Company estimates that 400 to 600 million M&Ms are produced in U.S. Factories every day. On a worldwide basis, it is not known how many are manufactured daily.
- During the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, soldiers carried chocolate pellets in a shell that kept them from melting. This gave Forrest Mars Jr, son of the founder of Mars Candy Company, the idea for M&Ms.
- In 1949, the slogan “They melts in your mouth, not in your hand,” was introduced to huge success.
- A small “m” is printed on each piece of candy.
- In 1954, the company changed the black letter “m” on the candy to white.
- International sales began in the 1980s.
- In 1976, orange replaced the red color. Red Dye #2 and #4 were carcinogenic. This was known as the “Red Dye Scare”. Red M&Ms did not use these dyes. However, the company discontinued this color to avoid confusion… and lost sales. Red M&Ms came back in 1987.
- The different colors do not have a different flavor.
- Today, there are 63 different kinds of M&Ms. What is your favorite?
- They were the first candies to go into space.
- M&M “Spokescandies” that you see in ads are frequently updated. The company changes their expressions, footwear, and headgear.
How to Celebrate National M&M Day
Like other food holidays, celebrating National M&M Day is fun and easy. Here are a few of the many ways you will enjoy this sweet holiday:
- Munch on M&Ms all day long.
- Try a variety that you haven’t experienced before.
- Bake with them. M&M cookies, anyone!?
- Include them in your homemade trail mix.
- Buy a bag of mini-sized M&M packets. Then, give them to everyone you come in contact with today.
- Fill a candy dish at your workplace and watch them disappear.
- Put them on your ice cream tonight.
May we Suggest: Put a piece or two under your tongue and leave it there for a minute or two. Then, when you bite into it, the chocolate inside has melted.
Today's Chuckle
Candy puns are so M&Mbarassing.
I usually don’t eat candy. But this is an M&Mmergency.
You’re so M&Mazing!
History and Origin of National M&M Day
National M&M Day is a relatively new holiday. The earliest reference to this holiday we found was in 2021. Our research did not find the creator or the origin of this day. Mars Candy Company has made no claim as the originator. So, the creator of this sweet holiday is most likely an M&M lover. Perhaps it was you!? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
We think this holiday should be an international day. People all over the world love M&Ms.
We did not find any documentation confirming this to be a “National” day. There are no congressional records or presidential proclamation.
Definition of “National” Days – and why it is so important to distinguish and identify true national days.
This Day in History
In addition to National M&M Day, here are some other things that happened on this day:
The U.S. Continental Navy was created. See Navy Day (1775)
The cornerstone was laid for the Whitehouse. (1792)
Paul Simon, singer, songwriter, “Simon & Garfunkel” was born on this day in (1941)
Related Holidays
People who like National M&M Day will also like:
Chocolate Covered Anything Day
National Chocolate Day – Yes, there are two days to celebrate chocolate!
More October 13 Holidays
In addition to National M&M Day, here is another October 13 holiday:
International Skeptics Day – People are inclined to have their doubts about this holiday.
More About Today
Recipe of the Day: Peanut Butter Ghosts
Also See: Pumpkin Recipes Galore and Holiday Recipes and Halloween Recipes
Pumpkin Nook – Visit the folks that know everything about pumpkins. Halloween, too.
Ecards – Send a free Ecard daily for National M&M Day, or just about any October calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Without a doubt, it’s fun for both the sender and the recipient.
Holiday Insights, where every day in October is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? There are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. Many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. October holidays are no exception. Consequently., at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.
