National Jelly Bean Day

Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Apr 23, 2024 By Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Originally Published on Mar 04, 2022
Fact-checked by Sudeshna Nag
You can bake jelly beans on National Jelly Bean Day!

Where is National Jelly Bean Day celebrated?

National Jelly Bean Day is celebrated all over the United States.

Who is National Jelly Bean Day celebrated by?

Candy lovers celebrate the occasion! This day is the right occasion to start for those who have not yet had their first jelly bean.

When did National Jelly Bean Day first start?

The first instance of the National Jelly Bean Day's celebration is unknown.

Who started National Jelly Bean Day?

The history of National Jelly Bean Day is a mystery as there is no clear record of the first instance of the celebration. It is suggested that candy manufacturers were behind the celebration to promote their products. Whatever the reason may be, candy lovers got an excuse to celebrate jelly beans!

History And Timeline

According to records, the first jelly bean was believed to be created by an American candy maker William Schrafft. However, these are just guessworks, as clear history is still unknown. In 1861, an advertisement came out recommending sending jelly beans to soldiers engaged in the Civil War.

Invention Of Jelly Bean

William Schrafft, an American confectioner, is believed to have invented the jelly beans. In 1861, he promoted sending jelly beans to soldiers fighting in the Civil War. After it gained popularity, jelly beans were sold as penny candy and were sold in glass jars in stores across the country.

1800s

First Advertisement Of JellyBeans

An advertisement for jelly beans was published in the 'Chicago Daily News.' Jelly beans were sold for 9 cents a pound. They soon became a popular item during Easter in candy shops and were linked with the Easter Bunny because of their shape.

July 5, 1905

The Short Story 'Jelly-Bean' Is Published

F. Scott Fitzgerald writes 'The Jelly-Bean', a short story about a wandering slacker named Jim Powell.

1920

Jelly Belly Introduces Unique Flavors

Jelly Belly introduced the very cherry, grape, licorice, cream soda, lemon, tangerine, and green apple flavors in 1976. Jelly Belly also became the first jelly bean brand to be sent into outer space in the space shuttle Challenger in 1983.

1976

Introduction Of Unique Flavors

The first Harry Potter movie features a train scene of 'Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans' a popular jelly bean brand in the Harry Potter universe. In the movie, jelly beans of this company were given as Christmas gifts.

'90s

Traditions And Customs

National Jelly Bean Day has been observed for many years, and traditionally, the shape of the jelly beans links them to Easter Day.

Besides the officially celebrated National Jelly Bean Day, an estimated 16 billion jelly beans are eaten by Americans every Easter! That is quite a lot of jelly beans by any count. Obviously, this overwhelming popularity ensures that jelly beans remain one of the most consumed goodies in America.

Ways To Observe Or Celebrate National Jelly Bean Day

National Jelly Bean Day can be celebrated by munching down on your favorite jelly bean flavors straight from the store! If you are more of a creative person, you can spend the day creating your own jelly beans.

However, the machinery used in jelly bean production isn't easily accessible by normal people; hence it is suggested to just buy jelly beans from a store. But just because you can't make jelly beans from scratch doesn't mean you can't use them in other ideas!

You can easily make jelly bean popcorn for Easter or just use the jelly bean popcorn for a normal occasion with friends and family. You can also make jelly bean bark, another easy Easter recipe to share with friends and family.

Jelly bean sugar cookies are a simple way of creating something fun with jelly beans using a simple sugar recipe to celebrate National Jelly Bean Day.

Present the sweets to friends and family in a jar as gifts. You can also come up with activities for kids that make use of jelly beans!

National Jelly Bean Day Facts And Stats

  • Ronald Reagen, the former United States president, absolutely loved jelly beans! His love for the sweet and chewy candy can be seen in exhibits honoring him in the Jelly Belly factory located in Fairfield, California. The president is reported to have had jars of jellybeans at official meetings!
  • This day is celebrated all over the United States of America, but did you know that every region in the world has preferences about the flavor? America likes very cherry whereas Europe likes Tutti Frutti!
  • Kids love jelly beans, it is sweet, and it is colorful. On this day, hand them a bag full of jelly beans and ask them to match the colors!

Is there a National Jelly Bean Day?

Yes! National Jelly Bean Day is celebrated on April 22 annually.

When did National Jelly Bean Day start?

The origins of the first National Jelly Bean Day are unknown.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Wednesday, April 22, 2020
  • Thursday, April 22, 2021
  • Friday, April 22, 2022
  • Saturday, April 22, 2023
  • Monday, April 22, 2024

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Written by Rajnandini Roychoudhury

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

Rajnandini Roychoudhury picture

Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature. 

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Fact-checked by Sudeshna Nag

Master of Arts specializing in History

Sudeshna Nag picture

Sudeshna NagMaster of Arts specializing in History

Having earned a Master's degree in History from the Presidency University in Kolkata, Sudeshna was able to refine these skills and broaden her knowledge base. Not only is she an accomplished fact-checker, but she is also deeply invested in gender research, societal interactions, and mental health. Her professional repertoire also includes experience in translation between Bengali and English content

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