National Cotton Candy Day is celebrated on December 7 to our sweet tooth’s joy and our dentists’ dismay. But did you know dentists actually invented it in the first place? It was even called fairy floss back in the day. Now, it’s the go-to at county fairs and a must-have when riding a Ferris wheel. Most of our childhood memories wouldn’t have been complete without the sugary cloud that is cotton candy. Read on to discover its history — as well as how to celebrate one of the sweetest days of the year.
National Cotton Candy Day timeline
Dentist William Morrison and confectioner John C. Wharton are credited for the invention of machine-spun cotton candy.
Following the invention of machine-spun cotton candy, it was finally introduced to a wide audience at the World’s Fair in St Louis, as 'fairy floss.'
It came about when a dentist, Josef Lascaux, built a machine and sold the treat to patients in his Louisiana office.
The world's biggest cotton-candy manufacturer - Tootsie Roll Industries, produces bagged cotton candy called called Fluffy Stuff.
National Cotton Candy Day Activities
Eat all the cotton candy you can
Buy some and celebrate! Maybe try a new flavor for the first time. Banana? Green apple? Strawberry?
Give some to your siblings or childhood friends
If you enjoyed cotton candy with someone at a young age, celebrate with them. We're sure sweet memories will accompany this sweet fix.
Try making it at home
Think you could do better than the dentists who created it? Give it a shot and try various flavors while you're at it.
3 Reasons We Can't Seem To Get Enough
Sugar's the only true ingredient
When spun, cotton candy's all white because it's made from just sugar. Adding dye can transform the color.
A thread of cotton candy is thinner than a strand of human hair
Though thin, the treat can be very long. In fact, the longest cotton candy was created in July 2009 and stretched over 1,400 meters.
Cotton candy has different names around the world.
In England, it’s called candy floss. In Australia and Finland, it’s called fairy floss. In the Netherlands, it’s known as suikerspin, which means “sugar spider.” Traveling to France? Call it barbe à papa, which means papa’s beard.
Why We Love National Cotton Candy Day
All sugar — all the time
If you're needing a sweet fix, this is your ticket to that sugar high you're craving.
Quick, easy, and no crumbs
Not only is cotton candy easy to store, it makes no mess. It's just soft clouds of sugar that can easily be folded up and eaten in less than a minute.
It gets us nostalgic
Carnivals, fairs, and more. Cotton candy brings the memories back. We love feeling like kids again.
National Cotton Candy Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | December 7 | Saturday |
| 2025 | December 7 | Sunday |
| 2026 | December 7 | Monday |
| 2027 | December 7 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | December 7 | Thursday |
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