Observed primarily in the United States where the gumdrop was purportedly invented by chemist Percy S. Truesdell in 1915 by altering the consistency of starch used in candies, this food holiday recognizes the popularity of little pieces of gelatin garnished with a sugar coating.

The term "gumdrops" was first documented in the 1850s in reference to a candy shop in Illinois. The word gained popularity throughout the late 19th century, when "gumdrop" become a slang term for a sweetheart.

The modern cone-shaped, gelatin-based candy known as a gumdrop has been celebrated with a food holiday in the USA since the early part of this century.

This is a good day to test the different flavors of gumdrops and use them in baking or crafts. You might also want to play the board game Candy Land, which features Gumdrop Pass and Gumdrop Mountain.