WELCOME TO An Entertainment Site for Scottish Country Dancers - Enjoy the curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Sweet Treats Day
Dec 14
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Twisted and bright, a holiday delight!"
Prized for its decorative fanciness, ribbon candy is a fixture for many people's holiday candy dish! And if you've ever watched a master candymaker create ribbon candy by hand, this reel will put you in mind of the pulling and shaping phase in which the hot sugar is stretched and woven back and forth to create just the right shiny goodness! Ribbon candy is a traditional confection with roots tracing back to Europe, likely developed in the 18th century. The candy became especially popular in Victorian times, often used to adorn Christmas trees or offered as festive treats. Its delicate curves and bright colors made it a holiday favorite, particularly in the United States, where advancements in candy-making machinery in the 19th century allowed for mass production while preserving its signature elegant design. Today, ribbon candy remains a nostalgic holiday tradition, celebrated for its artistry and sweet taste. A master candy maker could even create a ribbon with the warp or weft of a favourite tartan for a special occasion! ❤️ 💚 ❤️ 🍬 🍬 🍬
Ribbon Candy
Ribbon candy, with its intricate folds and glossy, translucent appearance, shares fascinating similarities with the art of glassmaking. Both crafts involve the transformation of a molten, pliable material into delicate, decorative forms through careful manipulation.
The origins of ribbon candy date back to 19th-century Europe, where skilled confectioners hand-pulled boiled sugar into thin, malleable strands. Like glassmakers, these artisans worked quickly to shape the material before it hardened, folding and twisting it into elaborate ribbon patterns. Early ribbon candy was created in small batches, often as a treat for Christmas, reflecting the colors of the season with vibrant stripes of red, green, and white.
This process mirrors traditional glassmaking, particularly the creation of blown and molded glass. Glassmakers heat silica to a molten state and use tools or blowing techniques to shape it into intricate designs. Similarly, ribbon candy makers heat sugar syrup to high temperatures, then stretch and twist the pliable substance into ribbons, often wrapping it around wooden dowels to achieve uniformity.
By the late 19th century, ribbon candy production became more mechanized, especially in the United States, where companies like F.B. Washburn & Co. popularized the treat. Machines adapted the hand-pulling techniques, much like industrial glassblowing machines revolutionized glassmaking in the same era. The result was a mass-produced version of an artisanal craft, yet each piece retained the elegance of its hand-crafted roots.
If you're curious about how some ribbon candy is made, click the candy!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
