Why Do They Call it Candy Corn
I finally figured out why they call it Candy Corn, and it only took me 46 years…
Ok, tell me I’m not alone. Tell me I’m not the only one who never quite understood how Candy Corn ever got its name.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve quite liked candy corn, but the name has always puzzled me. I never quite understood the “corn” part. Why corn? I mean, they’re little, orange, white and yellow, striped triangles. Candy CONE maybe, but candy CORN? It’s never made any sense to me at all.
First of all, there may be some of you wondering “What IS Candy Corn?”
For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, candy corn is a treat that, in some parts, is associated with Halloween. The candies are soft and sweet and a little chewy. They kind of taste a little like a marshmallow.
I can remember, as a kid, wondering what the reference to “corn” was all about, but I guess I just accepted it. I’d think about it briefly every October when the candies made their appearance in stores, but it was only ever a fleeting thought. I didn’t bother to actually look into WHY it was called candy CORN.
So, why DO they call it Candy Corn?
Well, one week ago, it hit me! I had my A-HA moment while sitting in the driveway with one little hooligans who was waiting for her Mom to arrive. We were picking kernels off our corn cobs (a project that’s kept us busy for a few weeks now). I thought it would be fun to line a few kernels up to see if they looked like teeth, and THAT’s when, in an instant, it all became clear.
How had I missed this? Every fall we spend days or even weeks plucking all of the kernels off a couple dozen ears of corn.
How had I not seen these bands of yellow and orange, and the white tip that connects the kernel to the cob.
Candy CORN. Of COURSE! It was so ridiculously simple. Too simple. How had I not figured it out before now?
I had a good laugh about it, and then excitedly shared my big news with my boys and my husband, and guess what. THEY had always wondered why it was called candy corn too!
Tell me we’re not alone!
If you’re looking for a super-sweet candy corn craft, check out these totally easy and adorable Candy Corn Paper Sculptures by Creative Family Fun
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
