Honestly, most "national days" are a bit of a scam. You know the ones—National Left-Handed Toothbrush Day or whatever—usually invented by a marketing firm in 2014 to sell more plastic. But National Lollipop Day 2025 hits a little different. It’s on July 20. It has actual roots. It isn't just a hashtag; it’s a weirdly deep dive into American confectionery history that involves Civil War soldiers, a guy named George Smith, and a machine that changed everything.
Lollipops are basic. Hard candy on a stick. That's it. Yet, we can't quit them. Whether it’s the mystery of how many licks it takes or the specific nostalgia of a doctor’s office giveaway, these things are hardwired into our collective childhood.
The Actual History Behind National Lollipop Day 2025
Stop me if you've heard this, but the term "lollipop" wasn't even a candy name at first. Back in the 1700s, it reportedly referred to soft candy. The "lolly" part might have come from an old English dialect word for tongue (lolly) and "pop" for the sound it makes against your teeth. Kind of gross when you think about it too long.
George Smith changed the game in 1908. He worked for the Bradley Smith Company and decided to put hard candy on a stick to make it easier to eat. He named it after his favorite racehorse, Lolly Pop. He actually trademarked the name in 1923. Imagine being the guy who owns the word "lollipop." Eventually, the trademark lapsed into the public domain, but the name stuck.
The Dum-Dums Phenomenon
You can't talk about July 20 without mentioning the Spangler Candy Company. They’re the ones behind Dum-Dums. They produce something like 12 million of them a day. Think about that volume. That is a staggering amount of sugar and paper sticks.
The "Mystery Flavor" isn't actually a secret recipe. It’s just what happens when the machines transition from one flavor to the next. Instead of stopping the line and cleaning everything out—which costs money and time—they just let the flavors mix. It's a brilliant bit of industrial efficiency masked as a marketing gimmick. If your mystery pop tastes like a weird mix of Blue Raspberry and Root Beer, now you know why.
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Why Lollipops Are More Than Just Sugar
We associate them with kids, but lollipops serve some surprisingly adult functions. Take the medical field. Actiq is basically a fentanyl lollipop used for breakthrough cancer pain. It’s a serious medical device shaped like a childhood treat because the mouth's lining absorbs medication faster than a pill in the stomach.
Then there’s the smoking cessation angle. For decades, people trying to quit cigarettes have used lollipops to satisfy the oral fixation. It’s a sensory replacement.
What to Actually Do on July 20
If you want to do more than just post a picture of a Chupa Chups on Instagram, there are a few ways to engage with the day that aren't totally lame.
Visit a real confectioner. Skip the grocery store aisle. Look for a local candy maker who still uses copper kettles. The flavor profile of a small-batch, hand-poured lollipop is worlds apart from the mass-produced stuff. You’ll notice the clarity of the candy and the lack of that weird, chemical aftertaste found in cheaper versions.
Check the See’s Candies tradition. See’s is famous for giving away free lollipops on this day. It’s a massive tradition for them. They’ve been around since 1921, and their gourmet pops—especially the Cafe Latte and Scotchkiss flavors—are significantly heavier and more dense than a standard sucker. It's worth checking if your local shop is participating, though be prepared for lines.
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The DIY Route. Making hard candy at home is a lesson in chemistry. You're basically dealing with sugar at the "hard crack" stage, which is roughly 300°F to 310°F. If you don't have a candy thermometer, don't even bother. It’s dangerous, it’s messy, and it’s a great way to ruin a saucepan if you aren't careful. But if you get it right? You can infuse flavors that big companies won't touch, like lavender-honey or chili-lime.
The Science of the "Lick"
Everyone remembers the owl from the Tootsie Pop commercials. But did you know actual scientists have studied this? Researchers at New York University and Florida State University once used a fluid dynamics model to calculate how long it takes to dissolve a lollipop.
They found that it takes about 1,000 licks to reach the center of a standard-sized lollipop. Their study wasn't just for fun; it helped them understand how moving fluids dissolve solids, which has applications in geology and pharmaceutical research.
Why Texture Matters
A "good" lollipop shouldn't have air bubbles. Bubbles create sharp edges when you lick them, which can actually cut your tongue. High-quality candy makers vacuum-cook their sugar to remove as much air as possible. This results in a smoother, longer-lasting experience. If you’ve ever had a cheap lollipop that felt like sandpaper after five minutes, that's why.
Cultural Nuances and Global Variations
In Mexico, lollipops are often coated in chili powder (tajín) and filled with salted plum or tamarind. It’s a completely different flavor profile—sweet, sour, salty, and spicy all at once. Brands like Vero or Pelon Pelo Rico dominate that space.
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Compare that to Japan, where Amezaiku is a traditional craft. Artists use small scissors and their bare hands to sculpt hot, pullable candy into intricate animals like dragons or goldfish before it hardens on the stick. It’s less about the snack and more about the three-minute performance of creation.
The Business of the Stick
It seems minor, but the stick is a point of contention in the industry. Paper sticks are the standard because they are biodegradable and don't have sharp edges if they break. However, some brands still use plastic because it doesn't get soggy. In an era of plastic straw bans, the lollipop stick is one of those small items that is slowly seeing a shift back toward sustainable materials.
Making the Most of National Lollipop Day 2025
Don't just buy a bag of the same old stuff. If you're going to celebrate, do it with some intent.
- Source a variety pack of international pops. Go to an international grocery store and grab a handful of flavors you've never heard of. It’s a cheap way to explore different cultural palates.
- Host a blind taste test. Grab the "Mystery" Dum-Dums and see if you can actually identify the two flavors being transitioned. It’s harder than it sounds.
- Support the veterans. Since candy history in the U.S. is so tied to the Civil War and WWI (candy was often sent to soldiers for a quick energy boost), consider donating to a veterans' organization as a nod to that history.
- Clean up the sticks. If you’re a parent or a teacher handing these out, remember that the sticks and wrappers are a nightmare for local parks. Make sure the celebration doesn't end up as litter.
Lollipops might be the simplest form of confectionery we have, but their longevity says something about us. We like things that last. We like a treat that requires a bit of work and patience to finish. On July 20, take a second to appreciate the weird, sticky, 100-plus-year history of the sucker. It’s a small slice of Americana that isn't going anywhere.