Gobstopper Day – September 14, 2022, History, quotes, FAQS
Gobstopper Day is celebrated on September 14. Gobstoppers, popularly known as jawbreakers, are hard, normally round, delicious candy with layers and layers of sweetness. What better time to reminisce about the childhood goodness of these candies than on Gobstopper Day! This day is celebrated annually and people get to relax and enjoy everything related to gobstoppers and, of course, the candies themselves.
HISTORY OF GOBSTOPPER DAY
The term ‘gobstopper’ derives from ‘gob,’ which is slang in the United Kingdom and Ireland for the mouth. The sweet was a favorite among British schoolboys in the first half of the 20th century.
The origins of the gobstopper can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where sweets were created using natural ingredients such as the likes of fruits, nuts, and seasonings. By the 1500s,
the manufacturing of sweets had begun on a small scale with all products created by hand, however, in the 1700s, machinery was being introduced in larger-scale confectionery companies to create more interesting and unique sweets, such as the gobstopper.
Gobstoppers are made by slowly depositing layers onto a core (such as a pressed ball of sugar or a gumball); it takes several weeks to manufacture, as the process of adding liquid sugar is repeated a lot of times.
Gobstoppers have been sold in traditional sweet shops for at least a century, often sold by weight from jars. During the years between World War I and II, gobstoppers were popular candies in the United Kingdom and the Americas.
Roald Dahl used the name in his 1964 book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” when he created the Everlasting Gobstopper, which was first manufactured by Breaker Confections, before being purchased by Nestlé.
Everlasting Gobstoppers were sold under Nestlé’s Willy Wonka Candy Company brand. It was first introduced in 1976 by Breaker Confections.
GOBSTOPPER DAY TIMELINE
21st Century
Gobstoppers are Popular
Gobstoppers are popular among schoolboys in Great Britain
1918
Gobstoppers Become Popular in America
Gobstoppers become a popular candy in the United States.
1964
Roald Dahl Features Gobstoppers in His Novel
Dahl uses the name in his 1964 book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” when he invents the Everlasting Gobstopper.
1976
Breaker Confections Uses Everlasting Gobstoppers
The Everlasting Gobstoppers in Dahl’s children’s book are introduced by Breaker Confections.
GOBSTOPPER DAY ACTIVITIES
Eat some Gobstoppers
Enjoy some delicious Everlasting Gobstoppers or other varieties of jawbreakers. Relax, ease the stress of the day, and have fun.
Gift some candies to your friends or colleagues
Gift some gobstoppers to your friends and colleagues to celebrate Gobstopper Day. Enjoy the moment of smiles and laughter the day brings.
Host a gobstopper party
Host a party and invite friends and family. Gobstopper Day provides an opportunity to bond and socialize with colleagues and friends.
5 SWEET FACTS ABOUT GOBSTOPPERS
They originated in the United Kingdom
Gobstoppers originated in the United Kingdom in the 12th century.
Calories
One tasty gobstopper contains an estimated six calories.
The world’s largest jawbreaker
The world’s largest jawbreaker weighs 27.8 pounds and has a circumference of 37 inches, which is bigger than a basketball.
Gobstoppers are made from layers of water
Gobstoppers are made from several layers of water, corn syrup, food coloring, and a sugar called dextrose.
The sugar content
A single gobstopper contains about 1.3 ounces of sugar.
WHY WE LOVE GOBSTOPPER DAY
We get to eat gobstoppers and reminisce about childhood
Gobstopper Day is a sweet day of candies and happy childhood memories. The taste of delicious gobstoppers reminds us of those fun and special days growing up, when we got candies from our affectionate parents, uncles, or aunties.
We get to socialize with friends and colleagues
Gobstopper Day provides a wonderful opportunity to socialize with our peers. We get to have fun enjoying delicious candies while conversing and telling jokes.
Enjoy Willy Wonka books or films
If you are feeling too lazy to leave your house, you could settle in and watch your favorite T.V. show. You could also decide to read a book or novel to pass the time quietly and sweetly by savoring a delicious candy.
How to Celebrate Gobstopper Day
Enjoying and celebrating this day is a delight for anyone with a bit of a sweet tooth. It can be nostalgic for some, or a new adventure for others. Try these ideas for getting involved with Gobstopper Day:
Eat a Mouthful of Gobstoppers
Gobstopper Day is the perfect opportunity to shove your gob (an English/Irish slang word meaning mouth) full of these delicious candies. However, most people, including the dentist, would encourage the avoidance of chewing, given how hard the candy is.
In fact, many people think that Gobstoppers are much more satisfying to slowly suck until the layers fade away, enjoying each individual layer for the flavors trapped therein. Larger gobstoppers can last for days, perhaps weeks, or even months if they are nursed properly, particularly since you often can’t put the whole thing in your mouth at one time.
Give Gobstoppers as a Gift
Friends, neighbors and coworkers all deserve the gift of enjoying Gobstopper day! And this is easy to make happen. Just pop over to the grocery store or convenience store and pick up several packages of this tasty treat to hand out to whomever happens to come across your path on Gobstopper Day. They’ll all be delighted!
Enjoy Willy Wonka Books or Films
Roald Dahl’s fantastical creation of the character Willy Wonka has led children through generations of fun! Take a look at these original or adapted versions of the story to celebrate Gobstopper Day:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Road Dahl (1964). This classic book isn’t just for children! Enjoy the fun adventures of Charlie as he wins the Golden Ticket.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971 film). Gene Wilder makes a delightful Willy Wonka as he stars in this musical adaptation of Dahl’s book.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005 film). A modernized version of Dahl’s book takes a slightly darker perspective from Tim Burton’s point of view. Johnny Depp stars as the world’s most unusual candy maker in this strange but enjoyable musical fantasy film.
Hold a Gobstopper Party
What a fun and unique reason to gather friends together in celebration of this event! Of course, the feature on the menu must be Gobstoppers candies, such as decorating a cake or cupcake using Gobstoppers candies on top of the icing. Or serve ice cream sundaes using Gobstoppers as one of the selections of toppings.
Decorations could include rainbow-colored streamers and balloons, as well as tablecloths, napkins and other paper products in bright, Gobstopper color themes.
For fun, hold some games that include the use of gobstoppers, such as filling a glass jar with Gobstoppers candies and having people make guesses as to how many are in the jar.
Gobstopper Day gives you an excuse to revel in this childhood treat. Like you needed one.
GOBSTOPPER DAY FAQS
What is a gobstopper made of?
Gobstoppers are made from layer after layer of water, corn syrup, food coloring, and a sugar called dextrose.
What’s the meaning of ‘gobstopper?’
A large, round, and hard sweet or candy.
Do gobstoppers have gum in them?
Yes, the candy is built up of various fruity layers and stores a piece of gum right in the center.
