Easter Candy Memories: Peter Cottontail to the Rescue!

2020 has been a hard year so far. The hardship of social distancing takes on even more poignancy on a day such as Easter, when families traditionally get together and children look forward to the excitement of Easter egg hunts and the discovery of what the Easter Bunny has brought them.  

But hardship is not unique to 2020. America has endured world wars, poverty, and pandemics that left children especially vulnerable. That's one reason why the simple joy of Easter candy is a treasured part of so many people's childhood memories. 

This year, many beloved local and regional candy makers have had to close up shop, and Easter egg hunts have been canceled. Yes, there's always next year... but in the meantime, here is a virtual gift of classic Easter candy from days past. Bring on the colorful duckies and bunnies! Kids in Easter clothes! The wacky chocolate bunnies! The jellybean, marshmallow, and coconut creme eggs! All delivered sweetly in an Easter basket just for you.

Brach's candy ad from 1962

1955 Luden's Jelly Eggs

Brach's candy ad from 1965

Here's a page from a 1969 Easter candy catalog of holiday delights from Blum's of San Francisco. Which one would you pick? Just Duckie, proudly perching on two whopping pounds of Easter candy? The eternally startled Funny Bunny? Or social misfit, Duckling Baby?

Here's a page from a 1952 Brach's Easter candy catalog. Here, Brach's offers a dapper chocolate marshmallow rabbit bedecked with an Easter fedora and bowtie. No pants, but how much can we expect from this critter, really? Brach's also offers a tempting variety of those delicious mellocreme and marshmallow chicks, rabbits, and pets---a favorite of mine. 

Here's a page from a 1955 Luden's Easter candy catalog. Luden's Easter candy holds a special place in my heart because of the deranged faces of the chocolate Easter animals. What are they thinking? Are they happy? Sad? Terrified that they're about to be eaten? No one can say for sure. Whatever the case, they grab your attention! 

Palmer's Binks family of chocolate Easter bunnies has been delighting candy lovers for decades. Here, we see four generations of the Binkses. Notice the family resemblance? Good looks and good taste runs in the family. 

The Candy Wrapper Museum wishes you a happy Easter, wherever you are!

For more Easter candy memories, visit the Candy Wrapper Museum.