National M&M Day
Enjoy the rainbow of candy colors surrounding delicious bits of chocolate in a bag of tasty M&Ms!
How to Celebrate National M&M Day
A myriad of fun ways can be found to enjoy and celebrate National M&M Day! Try out some of these ideas:
Enjoy M&Ms Candies
On this day, grab a bag of M&Ms to have as an afternoon pick-me-up or a snack after dinner. While they are perfectly delicious when eaten on their own, they can also make a great addition to trail mixes or even sprinkled on top of ice cream.
Don’t forget when eating M&Ms that many different options are available, including the plain M&Ms that come in the classic brown package or the peanut version that comes in the yellow bag.
Other options that have been a hit over the years include peanut butter M&Ms (orange bag), Crispy M&Ms (blue bag) or mint M&Ms (green bag).
Share M&Ms Candies
The great thing about National M&M Day is that these little candies are perfect for sharing! Grab a huge bag and take it to the office to pass around to coworkers. Or get a large container of the mini bags to send to school with the kids in celebration of the day.
Bake with M&Ms
These little pieces of chocolatey rainbow goodness are excellent when used as an ingredient in baking. Try them out as a substitute for the chocolate chips in cookies or add them to granola and create some no-bake granola bars.
M&Ms are also great when eaten with popcorn or added to a brownie recipe. The options are virtually endless for National M&M Day!
History of National M&M Day
Invented in 1941, these tiny little bits of candy coated chocolate have made a huge impact on American history throughout their more than 80 years of life!
The inspiration behind M&Ms started during the Spanish Civil War when Forrest Mars Sr. (of the Mars Candy Company), who lived in England at the time, began making small bits of chocolate with a candy shell coating that would keep them from melting as easily.
Following this inspiration, M&Ms were created by the Mars Candy Company and these little candies have brought joy to millions of people over the years.
During World War II, M&Ms were made exclusively available to the United States military who provided them to their soldiers. Packed in cardboard tubes, these heat resistant and easily transported candies became part of the US soldiers’ rations during the war.
But it wasn’t until 1950, after the war, that M&Ms finally got their now iconic little “m” stamp. After copycat companies came about, M&Ms customers were encouraged with a marketing program to “look for the ‘m’ on every piece”.
In 1981, M&Ms became the first candy to ever go up into space! The very same reasons that these little candies were handy for wartime rations also made them perfect for travel into space. NASA’s first space shuttle, Columbia, took the little candies out of the earth’s orbit and into space.
Now, National M&M Day is here to pay honor to this candy that has been so much a part of American culture and is certainly beloved all over the world!
National M&M Day FAQs
What does “M&M” stand for?
“M&M” stands for Mars and Murrie. Forrest Mars, the son of Mars Company founder, partnered with Bruce Murrie, the son of Hershey Chocolate’s president, to create the candy.
How did M&M’s avoid melting in high temperatures?
M&M’s were designed with a hard sugar shell to prevent the chocolate from melting, making them ideal for warm climates and military rations.
Why did Van Halen request the removal of brown M&M’s?
The rock band Van Halen included a clause in their contract demanding the removal of brown M&M’s to ensure venues read their technical requirements thoroughly, as a safety measure.
What was the original color lineup for M&M’s?
The original M&M’s colors included red, yellow, violet, green, and brown. Violet was later replaced by tan in the late 1940s.
How did M&M’s become the official candy of the millennium?
In 2000, M&M’s were dubbed the “Official Candy of the New Millennium” because “MM” represents 2000 in Roman numerals.
What was the significance of the 1995 M&M’s color vote?
In 1995, M&M’s held a public vote to replace the tan color. Blue won and was added to the mix, replacing tan.
How did M&M’s respond to the urban legend about green candies?
Due to a myth that green M&M’s are aphrodisiacs, Mars capitalized on this by introducing a seductive green character in their advertisements.
What was the first M&M’s spinoff product?
In 1991, Mars introduced Peanut Butter M&M’s, combining the popular flavors of chocolate and peanut butter in a candy shell.
How did M&M’s become part of presidential traditions?
Since the Reagan administration, personalized boxes of M&M’s featuring the presidential seal have been given as souvenirs to White House guests, replacing cigarettes in an effort to promote healthier habits.
What is the newest permanent M&M’s flavor?
In December 2024, M&M’s introduced a Peanut Butter & Jelly flavor, combining berry-flavored candy shells with a creamy peanut butter center.
Need some inspiration?
Check out these videos for some extra inspiration in getting involved!
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