The History of Smores: Chocolate, Marshmallows, and Graham Crackers

Certain things just scream summer, so much so they’re almost essential to summer. Do you know where they came from? Is a hot dog really made of dogs? Who froze Popsicles? Were smores an accident or an act of genius? Prepare to be answered. The history of some of your favorite foods is about to be revealed to fill your brain with more useless trivia for camp ground conversation and late night silence shattering than you ever really wanted. So much so it requires more than one article, today’s subject…smore smores history

Smores, dripping with love:

No camping trip is complete with out America’s finger goo-ing, sweet-toothed, chocolate-lipped treat, the smore. In fact, the Smore has become such a beloved dessert that it actually has it’s own (although not national recognized) holiday, August 10th during prime camping season.

What’s a smore lack?

A verified history. It seems despite it’s popularity the actual exact date and time that some one decided to place marsh mellow atop chocolate and sandwich it between graham cracker is unknown, but here’s what we do know.

The very first printed record of the recipe was in a 1927 in a girl scout’s manual entitled, “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts”. It’ said the smores original name was actually “some more”, awarded because of the constant requests for more and later shortened to simply “s’more”. It’s suggested that this abbreviation was perhaps born from sticky mouthed individuals unable to properly say, “some more, please” or that smores are just so delicious, you don’t have time to say the whole phrase. Because the three primary and necessary ingredients for an unaltered smores recipe are: graham crackers, marsh mallows and chocolate bars, and these items became popular and readily available to the public in the 19th century, it’s safe to bet the recipe originated in that time period, and we’ll simply credit it’s creation to happy camper’s everywhere.

Don’t fret we’ll offer you some history yet…

Breaking it down: The history of the smores building blocks:

The marsh mellow:

The marsh mellow far beats the smore in an age contest being over 4,000 years old. It was first discovered Egypt by squeezing a mallow plant and was reserved only for gods and royalty. However, it didn’t receive it’s more common appearance until the 1800’s. French candy makers whipped the plant extract into egg whites and sugar to make not treats, but medicine. Marshmallows originally were used to treat sore throats, suppress coughs, and help heal minor cuts and burns, and became so popular a quicker production method had to be found. Unfortunately, this method also put an end to the use of actual mallow in in marshmallows resulting in the modern recipe of corn syrup, corn starch, sugar, and gelatin. Marshmallows have no medical use, but Americans still purchase more than 95 million pounds per year.

The graham cracker:

We can put a name and a date on this one. Sylvester Graham in 1829, and clearly the cookie is named after it’s inventor. Graham created the cookie as part of a vegetarian diet as a high fiber, slightly-sweet cracker made with whole, unrefined wheat flour. He is also credited with having the first bread brand to be enjoyed world wide, but Graham was not worldly loved. He rallied against tobacco, meat, and alcohol and was regularly assaulted in the street. Not a kind way to treat someone who played such a big part in the smores birth.

The chocolate bar:

The most extensively researched ingredient of the smore, the chocolate bar, has a rich history dating back to it’s sister ingredient the marshmallow’s time more than 4,000 years ago in 2000 B.C. Chocolate originated in the Amazon and has been used all-throughout history by almost every culture ever known at some point in time, it was even once a currency in Spain. It wasn’t, however, forged into an actual chocolate bar until 1847, when Joseph Fry created a paste from chocolate that could be pressed into a mold. Chocolate DOES have medical uses. Harvard’s school of medical health claims that a few pieces of chocolate a month can actually lengthen your life! Chocolate is also high in antioxidants and essential minerals such as iron and copper.

But you know the best part of the smore is not it’s history, but it’s taste. I leave you with no other closing than the original 1927 recipe for smores compliment’s of the girl scouts.

“Some More:

8 sticks (for toasting the marshmallows)

16 graham crackers

8 bars plain chocolate (any of the good plain brands, broken in two)

16 marshmallows

Toast two marshmallows over the coals to a crisp gooey state and then put them inside a graham cracker and chocolate bar sandwich. The heat of the marshmallow between the halves of chocolate bar will melt the chocolate a bit. Though it tastes like “some more” one is really enough. “

Christmas Symbols and Meanings

Trees, stockings, wreaths, stars and presents- there are so many things that just scream Christmas, but why do we use these as Christmas symbols and what do they mean? Do you know why you set up a tree every year? How about candy canes, what’s the deal with those? Let’s find out.

A look at some of the most common Christmas Symbols:

The Christmas Tree:Christmas Symbols and meanings

The earliest Christmas trees actually originated in Egypt and symbolized the triumph of life over death. The first traditional Christmas tree came from Germany, however. The trees were meant to symbolize the people’s hope for the coming spring and a good harvest. They also believed Christmas trees warded off witches and evil spirits. As a result, the Christmas tree was not automatically accepted as a  Christmas symbol in the Christian Christmas as it was thought to be a pagan symbol. You certainly wouldn’t know that today though, as the Christmas tree has been welcomed to the Christmas symbols club in all its glory.

Santa Claus:

Santa Claus is another of Christmas symbol that is a bit muddled in its history. Some people believe he is yet another attempt to change Pagan gods into Christian acceptable alternatives. Others believe Santa was a real person named Saint Nicholas born in the 4th century. For fairness sake, both will be explained here.

According to the Pagan faith, Santa Claus is actually a combination of the Roman god Neptune of the sea and Nickar the Teutonic God of the Harvest. He also pulls several attributes from other Pagan gods. In the Christian faith, it’s believed Santa was a Bishop who later became a saint for his good deeds. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of the sea and children. He is said to have used his fortune to give gifts to poor children on Christmas.

In either case, Santa Claus is meant to symbolize generosity and helping those in need.

Christmas Stocking:

The Christmas stocking is said to have originated in a nobleman’s home, who after the death of his wife, squandered his fortune making it impossible for his three daughters to marry. Saint Nick, previously mentioned above, felt pity on the girls and threw bags of coins down their chimney. Their stockings which had been hung there to dry by the fire caught the gifts. Stockings are still hung today to hold gifts from Santa Claus. They have no real symbolism, but are still considered one of the popular Christmas symbols.

Christmas Wreaths and/or Holly and Mistletoe:

The wreath is a Pagan symbol of eternity. The circular shape of the Christmas Wreath represents life’s never ending circle and the interconnection of all things. Pagans believe wreaths protect from evil spirits and bring good luck. Traditionally, Holly and Mistletoe are also hung in homes at Christmas and are believed to have healing properties to the inhabitants. However, the Christian Church banned this Pagan tradition initially and later began claiming the Christmas wreath of holly represented the never ending love of Christ.

Mistletoe snuck back into the scene regardless of the ban at New Year’s rather due to the mysterious Christmas superstition arising that it was bad luck during Christmas. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe comes from the Scandinavian goddess of love Frigga, whose plant is mistletoe.

Christmas Star Tree Toppers:

One of the few Christian Christmas symbols, the star tree topper comes from the story of the birth of Christ. It is said a guiding star led Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem to birth Jesus. Though it should be noted the star is a long standing symbol in many cultures pre-dating Christianity. The star in regards to Christmas now represents hope and high ideals.

Christmas Presents:

Christmas presents being given began in ancient Rome during the Winter Solstice. Gifts were placed in evergreen trees to honor the sun god as well as bring the receiver luck and prosperity. Later gift giving was ascribed to the bringing of gifts at the birth of Jesus by the three kings.

In both cases, Christmas presents are meant to represent generosity, love, and the gift of giving.

Candy Canes:

Candy canes were born out the tradition of decorating Christmas trees with food items in Germany. The candy cane was designed to be a sweet treat that resembled the shape of a Sheppard’s cane meant to represent the leading of the people by god as their Sheppard.

 

 

Will My Face Really Stick Like That?

“If you keep making that face, it will stick like that!” I have no idea who told my kids this, but someone did, and so they asked me if it was a true. I said doubtfully, “I really don’t think so hun, it’s just rude to make faces.” We then had a conversation about people’s feelings as well as why sometimes people say things that aren’t true. In the end though, he still wanted me to check, just to make sure you know, that I was right and your face really won’t stick a certain way if you make a face too long.kids funny face stick like that

So, will your face get stuck like that?

Nope. There is no logical support for the claim that making a face too long will result in it “sticking.” This one just arose out of younger kids making rude faces, and their parents taking the easy route out with scare tactics. While some medical conditions can cause face paralysis or muscle contraction, these sort of conditions don’t arise from simply making a silly face.

This also applies to crossing your eyes. Prolonged eye crossing can cause muscle strain, as this just isn’t something your eyes are used to doing, but sore muscles don’t just stick for being sore.

…but wait… expressions can change your face, sort of.

Making the same expression a lot—and I mean a whole lot—can actually have an effect on the look of your face over time. For example, if you raise your eyebrows all the time, the muscle controlling that eye will become more toned, so to speak. Underlying musculature changes can make your face look slightly— albeit likely not horribly noticeably—different. You may also develop habit expressions that your face just sort of goes into, but they are usually things like a smirk or the before-mentioned eyebrow raise.

As you age, frequent use of the same expression will also determine where your wrinkles and lines are. For instance, folks who just can’t stop smiling often get crow’s feet and smile lines around their mouths and people who have sensitive eyes often get creases in the middle of their forehead from squinting.

Of course, as all of the above is far from an instant reaction, most young kids making silly faces have no reason to worry beyond being thought impolite. So, now you know, your face won’t in fact stick that way.