Are Jelly Beans Associated With Easter?

Yes. Jelly beans are associated with the Easter festivities.

The History of Jelly Beans

In fact, according to Loyola University Chicago professor and acting director of the Center for Textual Studies and Digital Humanities Elizabeth Hopwood, Ph.D., jelly beans were a traditional Christmas candy.

During the same time period, some people proposed combining jelly beans with colorful Easter eggs during domestic celebrations of Easter in order to reduce the number of real eggs.

History of Jelly Beans
Jelly Beans

That’s probably due to the fact that eggs were scarce during the WWI. In addition, the shape of their beans resembles an egg, thus the connection is logical.

According to Beth Forrest, Ph.D., professor of liberal arts and culinary studies at the Culinary Institute of America and food historian, “the popular coupling of jelly beans with Easter may be traced to three factors: shape, color, and pleasure.”

There’s a lot of symbolism in the shape and color of these eggs, as well as their sweetness, which signifies the conclusion of Lent for many religious people who have traditionally sacrificed something sweet during this period.

Many companies were producing the candy at this time, which was marketed in glass jars at confectioners and pharmacies, according to Hopwood.

For this year’s Easter, we recommend foregoing the traditional Easter basket and instead opting for an Easter dessert platter.

In the late 1860s, Jelly Belly, one of the most popular and well-known jelly bean makers, was founded.

When Gustav Goelitz set a shop in Belleville, Illinois, he made confectionery. Herman Goelitz Candy Company was founded in 1960 by Herman’s father, Herman Goelitz after he learned the trade at the hands of his father.

The Mini Jelly Bean, which has a natural-flavored interior and shell, was one of Herman’s first confections.

This was a first for jelly bean candies, which had previously just featured a flavored shell. Jelly Belly’s first eight varieties were introduced in 1976,” Swaigen explains.