The History of Easter Candy

tanagra writes "The days are longer, the sun is brighter, the colors are rich, and the candies are pastel. It's springtime once again, and in celebration of its triumphant return we enter into the saccharin sanctity of a world filled with Marshmallow Peeps, Jelly Beans, and other well packaged bits of sweetness sure to bring about a sugar-induced coma. Join us as we delve into the delectable not-so-distant past of Easter candy and learn, among other things, just how Marshmallow Peeps came to rule the world."

Comments

History of Easter Candy

[The Living Fractal]

1. Thousands of years ago Christ dies and is resurrected on this day.
2. Thousands of years pass, the Capitalist United States is born.
3. Someone decides that if there's a holiday, people will buy stuff 'related' (meaning the holiday is on the label) to it. They were correct.
4. ...A rabbit lays an egg?
5. Profit

Nothing represents Easter like ...

[Horatio_Hellpop]

//These days, nothing symbolizes Easter and Spring quite like your child throwing up marshmallow peeps. //

Not quite. Nothing symbolizes Easter quite like the empty tomb of Christ.

Re:Nothing represents Easter like ...

[hazem]

And nothing symbolizes Christmas like the empty womb of Mary?

I think I feel a song coming on!

Another piece of nonsense

[LanceUppercut]

The American approach to celebrating Easter is noting more and noting less that a relatively recent invention with purely commercial roots. As it is with most of the holidays in the US, it is trageted at the most vulnerable group - children. It doesn't have any genuine historical or religious background. The idea of that nonsense "ruling the world" is hilarious at best.

Products of their environment

[Scrameustache]

I've never heard of Marshmallow Peeps. Are they our secret masters?

I've seen them on TV.

See, this is like when people in the states say "World series", they mean "United states of America series", or when they elect the "leader of the free world", they really mean "the leader of the United states of America".
When a magazine decides to publish a collection of the prettiest people in hollywood, they call them the most beautifull people in the world.
Or when they say "America" and they exclude two thirds of North America, as well as all of South America to only mean "United states of America".

It's the result of a very limited world view.

Re:Products of their environment

[Generic Guy]

I've never heard of Marshmallow Peeps. Are they our secret masters?
It's the result of a very limited world view.

What's even more amazing than a U.S.-limited view is when such a large portion of The F'ing Article itself is dedicated to explaining what- and where- Peeps came from, but you'd rather polemicize.

Re:Products of their environment

[gryphscomputer]

It's not all about you Flower.
I think this is why the general consensus is that Americans are self-centred and ignorant of the rest of the world. Please don't think that I assume ALL US based Americans are ignorant. I don't. I do believe though that the majority of Americans have been led to believe that their country is the only educated country on the planet and that the rest of us are third world non-entities.
I doubt people find the term 'World Series' offensive when used in the context of Baseball.
Now, back to the subject. I figured (even though I am a stupid non-American) that Marshmallow Peeps had something to do with Marshmallows, those sugary soft things that you can roast over coals and burn your tongue with. I also figured they were just another vaslue added modified sweet that saved (and also made) the manufacturers a bucketload of money.
In Oz, we have 'Potato Gems'. These are half mashed potato pieces about the size of an average marble that are fried and sold for more than your average serve of chips (fries). Less potato, more money.

On the subject of Hollywood...isn't Hollywood the de facto propaganda vehicle for the US government? Sorry, that's rude. It *was* the de facto propaganda machine for the US govt. Lets see, Top Gun, Saving Private Ryan, anything with John Wayne in a uniform, anything with Elvis in a uniform...should I continue?

I don't generally give U.S. folk a hard time because I know it's not their fault they have a corrupt election process or a puppet for a leader, but when people like you get offended by facts, I have to say something.

The 'World Series' is still called that after 102 years. Many people still refer to your President as 'Leader of the Free World'. Many U.S. citizens refer to themselves as 'Americans' but really mean U.S-ians.

Fact is, most of your compatriats think I'm from Austria and that I have to side step Kangaroo shit on the foot-path (sidewalk). A lot your fellow USians probably think I wear a crocodile skin vest and throw shrimps on the barbie every second day. However, I know that not all of you folk walk down the street with a side-arm (except maybe in Texas) and scream USA all day.

I also know that a lot of USians are aware that there is more to the planet than the 52 states and the Star Spangled Banner.

Cheerrs all, I've had my fun,
Gryph

Re:Marshmallow Peeps came to rule the world?

[honkycat]

Or perhaps it's just an author engaging in a bit of hyperbole to spice up his article?

Oh right, because he probably really did mean that marshmallow birds are actually ruling the United States, but he was so narrow-minded he thought that was the whole world.

Why does Easter chocolate taste so nasty?

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone alse notice this? Get one of those pure chocolate bunnies and do a taste comparison with a standard Hershey bar. The Easter candy has this ultra sweet, sickly cloying taste to it that makes you puke. Everyone else I mentioned this to agrees.