SWEET CLASSICS

Did your favorite candy make our top candies list? Take a look!

Image: Denny Müller

What was your favorite candy when you were a kid? Has it changed, or does it still have a special place in your heart (or should we say, your taste buds)? Some candies have stood the test of time, delighting different generations of Americans with their flavors. If you have a sweet tooth, read on. Today, we're exploring the delicious world of the 10 most popular candies. But be warned: this might just send you running to the store!

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Just the thought of its name is enough to make our mouths water! Considered one of the best-selling candies in the world, the famous Snickers bar has an unbeatable combination: sweet nougat and crunchy peanuts, all wrapped in a chocolate coating.

Although the name of this delicious bar might make you think of shoes, it's actually named after a horse, the favorite of the Mars family, who created the candy in 1930.

Image: Justin

If you're one of those who can't resist a sweet treat, you've probably already enjoyed the Kit Kat bar. A classic in the world of candy, this bar not only has what we all want - yes, chocolate - but also combines it with several layers of crunchy wafer.

Legend has it that the Kit Kat bar, created in 1935, was specially designed with its iconic square shape so that it could easily fit into any worker's lunchbox. Plus, each packet comes with four chocolate fingers that you can snap off and save for later (although we prefer to eat them all at once!).

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Originating in the UK in 1967 and introduced to the United States in 1979, Twix, the famous chocolate and caramel bar, is one of the most popular candies to this day.

With its mix of milk chocolate, caramel, and cookie, Twix offers a crunchy delight that has won fans everywhere. Its catchy name is actually a combination of "twin sticks." Pretty smart, right?

Image: Dan Cristian Pădureț

If candy bars aren't your thing, don't worry! Maybe a fruity alternative can be the right option for you.

Originating in Colorado during the 1950s, Jolly Ranchers have been a beloved choice for candy fans for many years. With flavors from sweet to sour, there's something for everyone. If you're unsure where to start, rumor has it that the red flavors are the most popular!

Best known for their iconic hard candies, Jolly Rancher doesn't stop there; they also offer gummies and lollipops!

Image: Evan-Amos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are an American classic, with annual sales of more than $2 billion!

It is not just the delicious mix of chocolate and peanut butter that makes these Cups so irresistible; it's also their creamy texture that melts in your mouth. Okay, you got us; they are our favorites. But we're not alone; even the famous Ryan Gosling is reported to be a fan of these delicious candies.

Fun fact: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups were originally known as "penny cups" due to their price in the 1930s when they first appeared.

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Once you start, you just can't stop! Of course, we're talking about the irresistible M&M's.

For the sweet-toothed, there's the classic M&M's, featuring a semi-sweet chocolate covered in a colorful candy shell. And for those who want something less sweet, there's the peanut version.

Created in the United States in 1941 for the U.S. Army during WWII**,** you can enjoy these treats in any weather, hot or cold, thanks to the protective coating. Hence their famous slogan, "the milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hand."

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Hershey's Kisses, these filled chocolate teardrops, are not only delicious but also the perfect size.

But there is no breaking news here, as the Hershey Company has been producing these treats since 1907. Yes, they've been around for over a century!

In addition to their unique shape, Hershey's Kisses are also known for their distinctive packaging. Did you know that strip of paper that sticks out from the top is called a "Plume"?

Image: Jonathan J. Castellon

Had enough chocolate? Skittles can be the perfect antidote in this situation.

Also featuring a colorful candy coating, Skittles may resemble M&M's at first glance, but they're different. Instead of chocolate, you'll find a mix of corn syrup, sugar, and fruit juice inside them.

But where does this peculiar name come from? Well, the candy's round shape resembles the "ball" used in an old European game also called Skittles, similar to modern bowling.

And here's another fun fact: Skittles have been vegan-friendly since 2009!

Image: Evan-Amos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Remember those days as a kid when you stuffed your mouth with so much candy that you couldn't even chew and ended up drooling? Well, even though we're all grown up now, the colorful Starbursts can make you want to do that again.

Originally known as Opal Fruits, they were later rebranded as Starbursts, a name that refers to the burst of flavor in every bite. In our opinion, this name hits the nail on the head.

But if you don't trust our taste in candy, perhaps you'll trust football quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who declared himself a huge fan of these candies. His favorite is the red flavor!

Image: Mary Jane Duford

It's time to talk about a candy that divides opinions. Loved by some and hated by others, we can’t deny that Candy Corn is one of the most popular Halloween treats. Believe it or not, Candy Corn has been around since the late 19th century!

Despite its name and appearance, Candy Corn isn't made from corn at all. Instead, it is composed of gelatin, which gives it that waxy texture. If you are looking for a low-calorie candy option, look no further, as each piece of Candy Corn contains only about 7 calories!

THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Learn About 10 Historic Times The United States Pioneered Innovation!

Image: Luke Michael

Do you remember the first time you rode a bike? What about the first time you went to a zoo? Maybe you have memories of your first family trip or your first day of school. There is always a first time for everything, even for those things that feel like they have been around forever. The history of the United States also has its own "firsts." Today, we're remembering 10 historic firsts for our country, state by state!

Image: Quino Al

The rise of cell phones has allowed us to store and securely organize contact numbers. But in the pre-smartphone era, phone books were the solution. Remember those? They were these large volumes containing names, addresses, and phone numbers of the city residents.

Although today it may seem surreal that anyone in the city can have your information, back in the day, they were highly useful tools. And the first state to have one was Connecticut.

The very first phone book was a cardboard published in 1878 in New Haven, Connecticut. This pioneer edition listed only 50 individuals, businesses, and offices equipped with telephones.

Image: Joey Kyber

Today, we take electric street lighting for granted, but there was a first time for it, too. Electric urban lighting made its debut towards the end of the 19th century. Before that, the streets were either in darkness or lit by oil lamps.

Although there had been other demonstrations of electric illumination before, the real change came in 1880, when Wabash, Indiana, became the first U.S. city to be mostly illuminated by electricity. Of course, the event surprised residents and filled the newspapers with the bright news.

Image: Simon Fitall

Can you imagine the world without airplanes? Well, it was like that for a long time. In the old days, people traveled only by land or sea, and the idea of flying the skies was reserved for dreamers.

Luckily for everyone, things changed at the beginning of the 20th century when the Wright brothers put their aircraft to work in 1903. They made the first successful flight in North Carolina, and the rest is history!

Image: Priscilla Gyamfi

In the nation's early days, presidential inaugurations weren't like they are today. They didn't even happen in the same place as they do now.

George Washington, the first president of the United States, delivered his first address in 1789 at Federal Hall in New York City. At the time, the Big Apple was the capital of the country, holding the title until 1790 when it passed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Finally, the last move was in 1800, making Washington, D.C., the definitive site of the nation's capital, where it stands today.

Image: Absar Pathan

Christmas is that magical time when people worldwide come together for family festivities. But that wasn't always the case in the United States.

Alabama was a pioneer, becoming the first state to declare Christmas a legal holiday in 1836. That's a long time ago, right? The last state took its time to join: It wasn't until 1907, 71 years later, that Oklahoma became the final state to recognize Christmas as a legal holiday.

Image: Pedro Lastra

Skyscrapers dominate the skyline of every major city today. Although these imposing structures are still fascinating, we've become used to them being part of the city.

But there was also a time for the first skyscraper. The Home Insurance Building came to revolutionize the heights of Chicago, Illinois, in 1885. There are no exact or definitive definitions of what constitutes a skyscraper per se, but the Home Insurance Building claims to be the world's first one. Congrats to Illinois!

Image: Melody Ayres-Griffiths

Today's instant messages would seem the dream of madmen in 1844, when Morse sent the first telegraph message from Washington D.C. to Baltimore, Maryland, making the Old Line State the first to receive one.

Before the telegraph, communication took weeks or months to reach its destination, slowing down all interactions and operations.

Morse's telegraph message read, "What hath God wrought?" and forever changed the world.

Image: Brett Jordan

Wherever you go, you'll probably find a McDonald's nearby. It's a global phenomenon! Burgers, fries, and Happy Meals become a staple in the daily life of America. But 80-odd years ago, before 1940, things were very different.

The first McDonald's opened as a drive-in in 1940 by brothers Maurice and Richard McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Eight years later, this spot evolved into a fully developed restaurant, and its growth since then is history.

If you ever get the chance to travel back in time, going to 1939 isn't the best option, as you wouldn't be able to enjoy a delicious Big Mac.

Image: Marques Thomas

In 1950, Sam Walton, the visionary behind Walmart, purchased and launched his inaugural store in Oklahoma. However, the Walmart we know today was yet to be born.

The first lucky state to have a Walmart was Arkansas. The Walmart chain began in 1962 as a modest store in the city of Rogers. No one could have expected the huge and fast growth that awaited.

By 1968, Walmart had set its roots in Oklahoma, and by the 1980s, it had spread throughout the southern United States as well.

Image: Luis Melendez

Saving the best for last, Mississippi has an amazing achievement. The Magnolia State holds the title of being the place of the world's first lung transplant. This historic event happened in 1963 when Dr. James D. Hardy accomplished the feat, propelling scientific progress and improving human health.

Such an event occurred only 61 years ago! That demonstrates the incredible speed at which technology and human knowledge advance, making human life better and better.