Tuesday, November 18, 2003

The Legend of the Peppermint Pig

Just so you all know, it is my life's goal to someday write product blurbs like this one. Reproduced without permission from the makers of the Peppermint Pig™:

In early Decembers long since past, while the quaint Victorian village of Saratoga Springs slept quietly through a chilled and moonlit eve, legend suggests that a bit of Christmas magic was in the making.  The first dusting of winter's snow gathered in the darkened downtown doorways; and twirled by night's wind seemed to dance and whirl like sugar plum fairies.  Behind the oaken doors of ginger bread-sized candy shops that dotted Saratoga, tireless old candy makers, bathed in the amber glow of crackling hearth and bubbling candy pots, labored on in to the night creating ... and continuing a holiday tradition known to all as the "Peppermint Pig"™

This "Peppermint Pig"™, as aptly it was named, was cast of hard candy, similar in fashion to candy cane and festive pink in colour.  And while the pig is honored in Victorian holiday tradition as a symbol of good health, happiness and prosperity, these special "Peppermint Pigs", unique to Saratoga Springs, came to represent much more.   They proudly stood for an old-fashioned Yuletide itself-a wonderful time when red-cheeked children laughed and rode old wooden sleds over fresh snow, when church bells pealed and warm memories were shared by a gathering of family and friends.  After the holiday dinner, the Pigs were broken and shared by all in the hopes of good fortune for the coming year.


As Christmas passed and time marched further into a new century, the tradition of the "Peppermint Pig" continued on in popularity... until Father Time could wait no longer.  One by one the candymakers of Saratoga Springs passed on to their reward and the "Peppermint Pig" became but a wonderful memory.  We, the Master Candymakers, at Saratoga Sweets are honored to revive this timeless tradition and invite you and your family to celebrate a "Peppermint Pig" holiday season.