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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."

6 of 261 comments (clear)

  1. Huh? by EvilIdler · · Score: 1, Interesting

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

  2. Where'd the bunny come from? by dalutong · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I heard that it was a Anglo goddess named Eastre that took the form of a bunny/hare. Anyone else know anything about that? What about the eggs?

    --

    What comes first, finding a teacher or becoming a student?
  3. Peeps; re: Re:Huh? by 70Bang · · Score: 5, Interesting



    Because this is so high, I'll add it here:

    Peeps are extruded marshmallow cover with all sorts of color material. They're quite pliable.

    The Chicago Tribune had an article interviewing the president/CEO and said it's been determined Peeps have a three-year shelf life. (the pres offered the interviewer one and he passed it up.

    I would liken this to be like the breakfast cereals which claim to be "part of this nutritional breakfast" and it's okay until they add the extra stuff which would already covers the necessary quanties.


    Here's the Official Peeps web site.

    Whatever they have in them, they have the bare minimum to qualify as food, just like ventored honey buns. It's like White Castle. (You can find a White Castle franchise when the bars have closed - just look for a list of cars of thirty or more. If somoeone sold White Castle & booze in the same location....

  4. Re:Nothing represents Easter like ... by Wizard+Drongo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually, nothing quite symbolises Easter than the acknowledgement of Eostre, the welcoming of spring, and the fertility rites therein contained that nourish the hope of a forthcoming warm summer and good harvest. Hence the bunnies/lambs/eggs/wheat dollies symbology; after all, what could possibly symbolise fertility more than bunnies (as in "at it like bunny rabbits") or a good harvest like wheat dollies from the last harvest. And of course, since sheep give birth in spring (or 'lambing season') all of these references are absolutely spot-on. In fact, I can't see anything about Easter, symbolically, that's representative of Christianity. Wonder why that is? Oh, yeah, that's why. It's NOT CHRISTIAN!!!

    Just because the Church of Rome, 'back in the day' needed to convert the masses, and thought that they'd do it by slowly nicking all the pagans' festivals, and putting a thin veneer of christianity on them, doesn't make it so.

    Just once, I would like to revere my Gods, in my people's time honoured fashion without a bunch of dead-jew-worshipping nut-jobs coming in and spoiling it by claiming it as theirs. At least Christmas-nee-Yule has become so crass and commercialised that religion has very little to do with it all now, so we can hold our own, private religious rituals on Dec 21st then get down to the serious nature of Christmas/Hogmany; heavy drinking.

    --
    The truth shall always be free: Boris Floricic is Tron.
  5. Re:Easter is not in spring... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Well actually easter's not even in april, it's in march (around the 21st) and it's not easter its Ostara

    And christmas is on the winter solstice and its called Yule

  6. Re:Nothing represents Easter like ... by hazem · · Score: 2, Interesting

    And here it is!

    (to the tune of the US Marine Corps song)

    From the emtpy womb of Mary, to the empty tomb of Christ
    We will celebrate the holidays, With cakes and cookies iced

    Books will tell tales of the savior, 'twill be hard to tell what's true
    We'll take all the pagan holidays, and tell the Christians, "they're for you"